The Billionaire's Hidden Debt

Chapter 6: The Confrontation

Julian Thorne gripped my arm, leading me toward the study where the noise had come from. My heart was a frantic bird in my chest. If Silas had been caught stealing something, we were both finished.

We burst into the room, but the scene wasn't what I expected. Silas wasn't hiding; he was standing in the middle of the room, looking bored. On the floor lay a shattered stone statue, and across from him stood two of Julian's security guards, looking very nervous.

"Ah, Julian," Silas said, his voice smooth as silk. "You really should secure your antiques better. This one was a fake anyway."

Julian’s face turned a deep shade of red. "You had no right to be in here, Vane. And you," he looked at me with pure venom, "you played your part well."

Silas stepped between us, his presence instantly making the room feel smaller. "Leave her out of this. Our business is concluded. I have the files, and you have a broken statue. I’d say we’re even."

Silas grabbed my hand—his grip was warm and surprisingly steady—and led me out of the mansion before Julian could say another word. We didn't stop until we were inside the back of his black sedan.

The silence in the car was heavy. Silas was staring out the window, his jaw tight.

"You used me," I whispered, the anger finally bubbling over. "You sent me to distract a dangerous man while you broke into his office. What if he had hurt me?"

Silas turned to me, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of something that wasn't ice in his eyes. "He wouldn't have hurt you, Ava. Because I was watching the whole time."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, leather-bound notebook. "This belongs to your father. It's the reason he's in debt. And it's the reason your mother disappeared."

I stared at the book, my breath catching. The mystery was no longer just about money. It was about my life.