THE DIVORCE MY REVENGE

THE DIVORCED MY REVENGE CHAPTER 4

Chapter four

Elena stared at the photograph. Her father's face was unmistakable.

So was Alexander Sterling. But the third person made her blood run cold.

Victoria Laurent. Seven years ago. Standing beside the two men who had become central to the mystery surrounding her father's destruction. Elena's fingers tightened around the photograph.

Why was she there?

Damian didn't answer immediately. I don't know. You keep saying that because it's the truth.

She looked at him. Three years ago, she would have believed every word he said.

Now, trust was a luxury she couldn't afford.

You were married to me for four years, she said quietly. And somehow, there are still things about your family you don't know.

Damian's jaw tightened. Neither do you.

No.

She looked back at the photograph. But I'm not the one asking you to trust me.

He stepped closer.

Elena.

She turned.

What? I know you think I was part of this. Were you?

No.

The answer came without hesitation. I never knew your father was investigating my family. I never knew about Blackwell. And I never authorized those transfers.

Elena studied his face. She wanted to believe him. That was becoming dangerous.

Then prove it.

I will. His voice was quiet. And when I do, you'll have to accept that you were wrong about me.

Elena's eyes hardened. If you're innocent, I'll admit it.

And if I'm not? She gave him a cold smile.

Then I'll be the one who destroys you.

The next morning, Elena's empire began to crack.

Her phone rang before seven.

Ms. Marlowe, we have a problem. It was her chief financial officer.

What kind?

The Henderson acquisition has been terminated.

Elena sat up.

Why?

The seller received another offer.

From whom? Silence.

Sterling Group.

Elena's expression changed. How much? Twenty percent above our offer.

She ended the call. Her phone rang again. Then again. By eight o'clock, three more deals had collapsed. By nine, Orion Capital's stock had begun falling. By ten, the media was calling her company unstable.

Elena stood in front of the television in her office, watching the reports.

Industry analysts are questioning whether Orion Capital expanded too aggressively…

Another channel showed a headline:

MYSTERIOUS BILLIONAIRE'S EMPIRE UNDER PRESSURE

Sophia entered the room. It's coordinated. Elena didn't look away from the screen.

I know.

They knew about every deal before we announced them. Who had access? Sophia hesitated.

That's the problem. She handed Elena a tablet. The leak came from an encrypted account.

Elena scanned the information. Her face became expressionless.

Daniel.

We can't prove it, but we can find him. He's disappeared. Elena looked up.

Find him. Across town, Damian slammed a folder onto his desk

Who authorized the acquisition? His legal director swallowed. Your grandfather.

Damian's eyes narrowed. Without informing me?

Yes.

Cancel it; the board has already approved it. Then call the board

The man hesitated. They're meeting without you. Damian slowly leaned back.

What?

Your grandfather called an emergency board meeting. A cold feeling settled in Damian's chest.

He stood.

Who else is attending? The answer came quietly. Victoria Laurent.

Damian's expression hardened. The boardroom was already full when Damian arrived.

Alexander Sterling sat at the head of the table. Victoria was seated beside him.

Damian stopped at the door. What is she doing here?

Alexander didn't look up. Victoria is advising the family. She isn't part of this company.

She soon will be. Victoria smiled

Damian's eyes turned cold.

No.

Alexander finally looked at him.

You don't get to decide everything. I do when you're using my company to attack my ex-wife

The room went silent. Victoria's smile disappeared. Alexander folded his hands. Your ex-wife is attacking us first.

She's investigating her father's death.

Exactly.

Damian stared at him. You're afraid of what she'll find. Alexander's face hardened.

You're becoming reckless, and you're becoming desperate. Damian turned toward Victoria.

Did you leak Orion's information? Victoria looked offended.

How could you accuse me of something like that? Because you're the only person in this room who benefits from Elena's downfall.

Victoria stood. I loved you.

Damian's expression didn't change. You loved the Sterling name. Her eyes flashed.

Alexander slammed his hand against the table. Enough! Damian looked at his grandfather.

You told me Elena was dangerous.

She is.

Then why are you so afraid of her? Alexander said nothing.

Damian stepped closer. Tell me what happened seven years ago.

The old man's face became unreadable. You don't want to know.

Yes.

You really don't. Damian's voice dropped. Try me.

Alexander stared at him. Then he said the one thing Damian never expected.

Your father wasn't the person who destroyed Marlowe Industries.

Damian froze. Then who was?

Alexander didn't answer. Instead, Victoria quietly left the room.

Damian watched her go.

Something about her silence frightened him more than his grandfather's words.

That evening, Elena received a call from an unknown number.

She answered.

Hello?

For several seconds, there was only breathing. Then a distorted voice spoke.

You should stop.

Elena's eyes narrowed.

Who is this? You're getting too close.

To what? The truth. Elena stood.

Then tell me the truth. A quiet laugh came through the phone. You really are your father's daughter.

Her blood ran cold. How do you know my father? The caller hung up.

Elena immediately traced the number. Nothing: Blocked, Unregistered.

She stared at her phone. Then a message arrived.

Look beneath the old Marlowe estate. Her heart began racing.

The Marlowe estate had been abandoned after her father's company collapsed.

No one had lived there in seven years. She grabbed her coat.

The estate was almost completely dark. Elena entered through the broken side door.

Dust covered the floor. Memories came rushing back. Her father's office, His library.

The staircase where she had once waited for him to come home.

She forced herself forward. Where are you? Her phone's flashlight swept across the walls.

Then she noticed something: a loose floorboard. She knelt and pulled it up.

Beneath it was a small metal box. Her hands trembled as she opened it. Inside was a USB drive.

And a letter.

She recognized the handwriting immediately: her father's.

Elena,

If you are reading this, then I failed to protect you. Her eyes filled with tears.

She continued. Do not trust the Sterlings. But most importantly, do not trust the woman who stands beside them. Elena stopped breathing

The woman.

Victoria.

She read the final line. She knows why I was destroyed.

A noise came from behind her. Elena spun around.

Nothing. Then the lights came on.

Damian stood in the doorway.

She immediately stepped back. What are you doing here?

I followed you. You followed me?

You left your security detail behind. I didn't ask you to come.

No.

His eyes moved to the box in her hands. But I'm glad I did.

Elena held up the letter. Read this. Damian took it. His eyes moved across the page.

Then his face changed.

What?

Elena pointed to the final sentence Your family isn't the only problem.

Damian looked at her.

Victoria. Yes.

Before either could say another word, a loud explosion came from outside.

The windows shook. Elena screamed as Damian pulled her against him.

Another explosion. Then fire erupted near the front entrance.

Damian!

Stay behind me. Smoke began filling the hallway. They rushed toward the back door.

But before they reached it, Damian stopped. A figure was standing outside, watching them.

The person turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Damian ran after them.

Damian, no! He didn't stop. Elena remained frozen for a second. Then she saw something on the floor: a small object. She picked it up: a gold bracelet.

She recognized it immediately. It belonged to Victoria. Elena stared at it. Her heart sank.

Victoria had been at the Sterling board meeting. Victoria knew about the investigation.

Victoria had access to Damian's identity, and now her bracelet was lying inside the burning Marlowe estate. But before Elena could process it, her phone vibrated.

One final message appeared.

YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT DAMIAN WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE.

Elena's face went pale. Then another message appeared.

NOW HE WILL DIE B

ECAUSE OF YOU.

She looked toward the darkness where Damian had disappeared.

For the first time in three years, Elena wasn't afraid of losing her revenge.

She was afraid of losing him.