Chapter 64

Arthur

"Winston Corporation is about to finalize a deal with Techvance Industries," I said. "Twelve billion dollars, three-year contract, exclusive rights to their new chip architecture. I know Brahmore Holdings has been trying to get a piece of that deal for months."

His eyes sharpened with interest. "Do you agree to let me join?"

I said. "In exchange for getting my grandmother to back off Cecilia. Permanently."

He did the math in his head. "That's generous, Arthur. Almost suspiciously so."

"It's worth it to me," I said simply. "Cecilia is worth it."

Richard studied me for another long moment, then stood and extended his hand. "Deal. I'll handle Margaret."

I shook his hand, feeling the weight of the bargain settle over me. But as Richard left my office, I didn't regret it. Not for a second.

Cecilia

I was three hours deep into building a comprehensive file on Madison Hartley when my phone rang.

Sophia's name flashed on the screen.

I stared at it for a long moment, debating whether to answer. After everything that had happened—the villa, the stairs, Alice's injuries, Carter breaking off their engagement—I wasn't sure I wanted to hear from Sophia Rose.

But curiosity won out.

"Hello?" I kept my voice neutral.

"Cecilia." Sophia's voice was hoarse, like she'd been crying. Or screaming. Or both. "I know you probably don't want to talk to me right now, but I—I saw the news. About you and Arthur."

"And?" I said coldly. "Are you calling to gloat? To tell me I deserve it?"

"No." She sounded genuinely distressed. "No, I'm calling because I know who's behind it. Margaret, Irene, Madison—they've been planning this for weeks. And I... I have information. About Madison. Things that could help you."

My hand tightened on the phone. "What kind of information?"

"The kind that could destroy her," Sophia’s voice suddenly turned calm. "If you're willing to use it."

"Why would you help me?" I demanded. "After everything that happened, after Carter—"

"Take it as an apology," she interrupted, her voice breaking. "I don’t want to let Carter down… even though we’re already…" She took a shaky breath. "I need to make this right. At least this one thing."

I was silent, weighing my options. Sophia had betrayed me before. Had stood by while Madison attacked Alice.

But she also knew Madison better than almost anyone. And right now, I needed every advantage I could get.

"What do you want in return?" I asked bluntly.

"I wanted to see…" She suddenly paused. After a long silence, she said, "Nothing. I don’t want anything."

I closed my eyes, thinking of Carter, of Alice, of all the ways Sophia's weakness had hurt the people I cared about.

Then I thought of Arthur, facing down reporters and his family and a coordinated smear campaign, all because he'd chosen me.

"Fine," I said. "Tell me what you know."

Sophia let out a shaky breath of relief. "Madison's family business—Hartley Capital. It looks clean on the surface, but there's been some... questionable activity. Insider trading, specifically. Madison's father has been using information from board members at companies Hartley Capital invests in to make trades ahead of public announcements."

My pulse quickened. "Do you have proof?"

"I have emails," Sophia said. "Madison forwarded them to me months ago, bragging about how her father was 'playing the game better than anyone.' I didn't think anything of it at the time, but now..."

"Send them to me," I said immediately. "Everything you have."

"Okay." She paused. "Cecilia? I really am sorry. For everything. I know that doesn't change anything, but—"

"You're right," I interrupted. "It doesn't. But if these emails are real, if they're as damaging as you say, then maybe—maybe we can call it even. But this is only my forgiveness. You sort things out with Alice yourself."

"Thank you," she whispered.

After we hung up, I sat there staring at my laptop, my mind racing.

Insider trading. If I could prove it, if I could connect Madison's family directly to illegal activity, it wouldn't just damage their reputation—it would destroy them.

It was exactly the kind of leverage I needed.

My email pinged—Sophia's message, with attachments. Dozens of them.

I opened the first one and started reading, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and grim satisfaction.

Got you, Madison Hartley. Got you.

Arthur

I was reviewing the Techvance contract when my phone buzzed with a text from Cecilia:

We need to talk. I have something on Madison. Something big.

I immediately called her.

"What did you find?" I asked without preamble.

"Insider trading," she said, and I could hear the triumph in her voice. "Madison's father has been using confidential information from board members to make trades ahead of public announcements. And I have proof—emails that Madison herself sent to Sophia, bragging about it."

I felt a slow smile spread across my face. "That's... that's perfect, Ceci."

"I know." She sounded breathless, excited. "If we leak this to the SEC, the Hartley family is done. Their business, their reputation, everything. Madison won't be able to touch us because she'll be too busy dealing with federal investigators."

"When did you get this?" I asked.

"About an hour ago. Sophia called me."

I frowned. "Sophia Rose? The same Sophia who—"

"Yes," Cecilia said. "I know. But she came through, Arthur. She gave me exactly what we needed."

I was quiet for a moment, processing. "Are you sure the emails are real? Not doctored or manipulated?"

"I’ve been using my hacking skills to investigate and verify for the past hour," Cecilia said. "Cross-referencing dates, checking metadata, verifying details. They're real, Arthur. Madison's father is guilty as hell, and his daughter has been complicit in covering it up."

"Then we use it," I said decisively. "We leak it to the SEC, let them start an investigation, and watch the Hartley empire crumble."

"There's one problem," Cecilia said, her voice turning hesitant. "If we do this—if we destroy Madison's family—she's going to know it was us. She's going to come after us even harder."

"Let her try," I said coldly. "She won't have the resources or the reputation to do any real damage. Not after this."

Cecilia was quiet for a moment. Then: "Okay. Let's do it."

"Forward me the emails," I said. "I'll handle the SEC filing. You focus on building the case, making sure every detail is airtight."

"Arthur?" Her voice softened. "Thank you. For fighting for us."

"Always," I said. "I'll always fight for us."

After we hung up, I sat back in my chair, feeling a grim satisfaction settle over me.

My grandmother, my mother, Madison—they'd all underestimated Cecilia. Thought she was just some orphan girl with no connections, no power, no ability to fight back.

They were about to learn how wrong they were.

And I was going to enjoy watching them realize it.