Chapter 9 - THE BRACELET

Victoria was wearing it.

There it was around Victoria’s wrist: her grandmother’s bracelet.

Ava stood.

“Take it off.”

Victoria looked at Charles.

“Dad?”

“Victoria, leave.”

“No.”

Ava stepped closer.

“That belonged to my grandmother.”

Victoria’s face shifted from confusion to horror.

“Damian gave this to me.”

Ava stopped.

“What?”

“For my birthday last year.”

The room went silent.

Damian had sold Ava’s grandmother’s bracelet.

Then somehow bought it back through Charles’s network.

Then gave it to Victoria.

Ava’s stolen past had become a gift for the woman who replaced her.

Victoria unclasped it with shaking hands. “I didn’t know.”

Charles snapped, “Enough.”

Victoria ignored him.

“Damian said it came from an estate sale.”

Ava took the bracelet and traced the tiny dent her grandmother made when Ava was eight.

Instead she asked Victoria, “Did you know about Knox Consulting?”

“No.”

“Did you know Damian used my identity?”

“No.”

“Did you know your family paid it?”

Victoria looked at her father.

Charles said nothing.

That silence answered everything.

Victoria turned.

“You knew?”

Charles stood.

“This is business.”

“You used Damian?”

“I managed exposure.”

“You gave him money?”

“I protected your future.”

Victoria laughed, broken and furious.

“My future?”

She ripped off her engagement ring and placed it on the table.

She looked at Ava.

“I’m sorry for what I did at the gala.”

Ava held the bracelet.

“You were cruel.”

“I know.”

“You enjoyed it.”

Victoria swallowed.

“I know.”

Then Lucian’s phone buzzed.

He read the message.

“Damian just left Sterling North.”

Charles went pale.

“With what?”

Lucian looked at him.

“That reaction suggests you know.”

Charles reached for his phone.

Security blocked him.

Lucian continued.

“Damian downloaded the acquisition archive and transferred twenty-eight million dollars from a controlled account.”

Ava stared.

“He’s running.”

Naomi called from the doorway.

“Not alone.”

She held up a security image.

Damian was entering a black SUV.

The passenger was Monica Bell.

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Ava’s supervisor from Bellmere Events.

The woman who had watched the champagne pour and done nothing.