Chapter 13 - THE LAST MOVE
The message stayed on the screen.
“You wanted the truth. Now come find it.”
Nobody moved.
The alarm continued screaming through the abandoned building.
Red lights flashed across the walls.
For the first time since everything started…
I felt something I hadn’t felt before.
Fear.
Not because of Richard Hale.
Not because of Eleanor.
Because I realized this had never been about a stolen ring.
The wedding.
The accusation.
The humiliation.
It was all a distraction.
A carefully planned move.
And we had walked directly into it.
My father immediately turned to his security team.
“Lock down every exit.”
The guards moved quickly.
Dominic looked at me.
“Vivienne, you need to leave.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because if Richard planned this, he may be watching.”
I almost smiled.
“Three days ago, you told me to let your family search me.”
His face fell.
“I know.”
“Three days ago, you stood there while everyone humiliated me.”
“I know.”
“Now you want to protect me?”
His eyes filled with regret.
“Yes.”
The answer was immediate.
And somehow that hurt more.
Because I believed him.
But belief didn’t erase pain.
Suddenly, one of the officers shouted.
“Movement upstairs!”
Everyone froze.
My father grabbed my arm.
“Stay behind me.”
We moved through the hallway.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Every sound felt louder.
A door creaked above us.
Then a figure appeared.
Not Richard.
Someone else.
A woman.
My breath stopped.
“Chloe?”
She stood on the stairs.
Her expensive wedding dress was dirty.
Her makeup was ruined.
The confident bride from hours earlier was gone.
She looked terrified.
“Help me.”
Nobody moved.
My father stared at her.
“Where is Richard?”
Chloe shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
I stepped forward.
“Why are you here?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
And for the first time…
she looked afraid.
“Because he lied to me too.”
We brought Chloe downstairs.
Nobody trusted her.
Including me.
But her story changed everything.
“He promised me the scandal would destroy you.”
I looked at her.
“You planned everything.”
She looked down.
“Yes.”
The admission was quiet.
But it was real.
“I hated you.”
“Why?”
She laughed bitterly.
“Because my whole life, I was told I deserved everything.”
She wiped her tears.
“And then you came along.”
I said nothing.
“You had what I wanted.”
I frowned.
“What?”
She looked at Dominic.
“You had someone who loved you.”
The room became silent.
Chloe continued.
“I thought you were nothing because that’s what my mother told me.”
A pause.
“But then I saw Dominic choose you.”
Her voice cracked.
“And I hated that.”
My father looked at her.
“Where is Richard?”
Chloe hesitated.
Then whispered:
“He has the account.”
Everyone froze.
“What account?”
She looked at Dominic.
“The one your father hid.”
Dominic’s face changed.
“What?”
Chloe nodded.
“Richard believes that account contains enough evidence to destroy Alexander Carter.”
My father became still.
Then Chloe added:
“But there’s something else.”
“What?”
She looked at me.
“He has the original marriage documents.”
My heart stopped.
“What marriage documents?”
May you like
Chloe swallowed.
“The ones proving why Dominic was chosen.”
