131

131

JOEL'S POV

The news hit me like a sucker punch: Zara was gone. And from the sound of it, Vivian had pulled it off without even a whisper of my involvement. After everything I’d put into this—after all the planning, the waiting—she’d gone ahead and cut me out completely. She thought she could pull this off without me, make her power play, and leave me in the shadows?

No. She was wrong. Dead wrong.

I barely remembered getting to her apartment. Fury blurred everything into a smear of lights and noise, my mind throbbing with rage. By the time I pounded on her door, my fists were shaking, and my breathing was heavy and labored.

The door swung open, and Vivian stood there, her expression flickering with surprise, then annoyance. She crossed her arms, arching a brow. “Joel,” she said, her voice laced with disdain. “What are you doing here?”

“Why don’t you tell me, Vivian?” I hissed, shoving past her into the apartment. “Why don’t you tell me why you went through with the plan without me?”

She closed the door, her expression hardening. “I did what needed to be done, Joel. You were out of control, and I wasn’t about to let you ruin this.”

Her words were a slap to the face, each one stinging more than the last. I’d put everything into this—my time, my energy, my loyalty—and she had the nerve to call me out of control?

“Out of control?” I echoed, my voice rising. “You think you can just cut me out of the plan I helped you build? I’m the one who kept this going, who made this possible. And you went behind my back, kidnapped that girl without so much as a mention?”

Vivian rolled her eyes, her expression cool, unaffected. “Joel, this was never about you. It was about what needed to be done. I couldn’t trust you. I saw what you were becoming, and I knew you’d only get in the way.”

Her words only fueled the fire within me. She had no right to talk down to me like that, to dismiss everything I’d done as if it meant nothing. My hands curled into fists as I took a step toward her, anger boiling over.

“In the way?” I spat. “I was the one keeping you together. You think you’re some mastermind, but without me, you’d be lost. You’re nothing, Vivian. Nothing without me.”

She laughed, the sound cold and mocking. “You’re delusional, Joel. This isn’t about you. It’s about Zara, about leverage. I never needed you—I just let you think you mattered.”

My vision blurred with fury. She was taunting me, belittling everything I’d done, and for what? To feed her ego, to make herself feel powerful? She didn’t care about me—never had. I was nothing more than a tool, something she could discard once I’d outlived my usefulness.

I took another step toward her, my voice low, menacing. “You used me, Vivian. Led me on, made me believe I was part of this. And now, you think you can just toss me aside?”

Vivian’s gaze sharpened, her mouth twisting into a sneer. “That’s exactly what I’m doing, Joel. You were useful for a while, but now… you’re just a liability. Get over it.”

The final words snapped something inside me. In that moment, every ounce of betrayal, every bit of resentment I’d buried erupted to the surface. Without thinking, I grabbed her arm, pulling her closer, my grip tight enough that I could feel her pulse beneath my fingers.

Her eyes widened in shock, her composure cracking for the first time. “Joel, let go.”

But I didn’t. I couldn’t. The rage had taken over, drowning out any reason, any restraint. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you? So untouchable. But you’re just as vulnerable as anyone else.”

She tried to pull away, panic flickering in her eyes, but my grip only tightened. “Joel, you’re making a mistake,” she said, her voice trembling despite her efforts to stay calm.

“A mistake?” I laughed, the sound raw and bitter. “No, Vivian. The mistake was yours. You thought you could control me, play me like some fool. But you’re the one who’s going to pay.”

Her face twisted in fear, and she struggled against my hold, but I was stronger, my anger fueling my strength. She stumbled, her back hitting the wall as I loomed over her, my breaths coming fast and ragged.

“Joel, stop!” she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper.

But her pleas only fueled my fury. She’d brought this on herself, every sneer, every dismissive look, every time she’d used me like a pawn in her game. I could feel my control slipping, my vision clouded with a red haze. She needed to know—needed to understand the consequences of crossing me.

“You wanted power, Vivian?” I snarled, my voice filled with venom. “Well, here’s what power looks like.”

In that moment, I acted without thought, without restraint, my hands around her throat, silencing her defiance. She struggled, her nails digging into my skin, but I barely felt it. The room blurred around me, her gasps fading as the anger swallowed everything else.

And then… it was over. Her body went limp in my hands, the fight draining from her, leaving only silence.

I stumbled back, my hands shaking as I looked down at her, realization dawning like a cold wave crashing over me. Vivian lay motionless, her eyes wide, staring unseeing at the ceiling. The weight of what I’d done settled over me, suffocating, inescapable.

I backed away, my heart pounding, my mind reeling. This hadn’t been the plan—none of this had. But in my rage, my desperation, I’d crossed a line that could never be undone. And now, I was left standing alone in the aftermath, the consequences of my actions staring back at me in the form of her lifeless body.

My mind raced, the full scope of what I’d done hitting me all at once. Vivian was gone, and with her, the plan we’d built together. Everything was falling apart, spiraling beyond my control, and I had no one to blame but myself.

I had to get out of here. If anyone found out… if Bethany or Damien knew… they’d hunt me down, make sure I paid for this. I had to think, had to plan, but my mind was clouded, panic threatening to consume me.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to focus. I needed to cover my tracks, make sure no one could link me to this. There was no time to waste; every second was precious.

I grabbed a nearby cloth, wiping down any surfaces I might have touched, erasing any evidence that could connect me to the scene. My heart pounded in my chest, the fear gnawing at me, but I pushed it aside, forcing myself to stay calm.

After a few tense moments, I stepped back, taking one last look at Vivian’s lifeless form. She’d thought she was untouchable

I took one last look at Vivian’s lifeless body, a grim sense of finality settling over me. She’d underestimated me, toyed with me, and now she was out of the picture permanently. But I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I needed to move forward, to take charge of the plan she’d started but foolishly tried to control alone.

Pulling out my phone, I dialed Kane’s number, my heart still pounding. After a few rings, he picked up, his tone sharp and businesslike. “Joel?”

“It’s done, Kane,” I said, my voice steady. “Vivian… she’s no longer in the picture. I’ll be handling things from here on out.”

There was a pause, and I could sense his surprise. “You’re saying she’s… gone?”

“That’s right,” I replied, letting the words sink in. “She couldn’t handle the pressure, and now the plan is mine. I’ll make sure it goes off without a hitch, and I don’t need anyone else’s interference.”

Kane was silent for a moment, then he let out a low chuckle. “Well, well. I didn’t think you had it in you, Joel. But if you’re taking over, I’ll expect results. No mistakes.”

“None,” I replied, the weight of my decision hardening my resolve. “Trust me, Kane—everything will go according to plan.”

As I ended the call, a cold sense of purpose settled over me. Vivian had thought she could control me, but she’d misjudged. Now, with her gone, I held the reins, and I’d make sure the plan went forward on my terms. Bethany and Damien would feel the consequences, and nothing would stop me.