Chapter 9

Lorcan released me.

A week later, the mastermind behind the car accident was revealed to be Gregory Townsend, Xander's older brother.

It didn't take long for the news to climb to the top of most-read articles. After all, Lorcan's accident had been a big deal. As I scanned the pictures in the news, I thought there was a vague familiarity about this Gregory person.

I was stewing in my thoughts when Skylark Entertainment retaliated a few minutes later. They uploaded a few pictures and documentary evidence that all pointed to Gregory's betrayal and destruction of Moondust Corporation, prefaced by his battle to usurp the last CEO.

I knew Moondust Corporation. When I was younger, Dad would carry me while he stood in the yard of our house. He'd gaze up at the moon and miss my mother, Luna.

My mom died of childbirth shortly after I was born. Every time my dad watched the moon, I knew he was thinking of her.

My dad had found Gregory on the streets. He'd been a young man who got the short end of the stick in life and wanted to end his own, but Dad took him under his wing and gave him a job at Moondust Corporation.

After that, Gregory rose through the ranks. He then cornered my dad—the man who'd found him at his lowest and given him a second lease on life—into choosing death so he could become CEO.

Lorcan wasted no time after Gregory's scandal made it to the news. He immediately acquired Moondust Corporation, adding salt to Gregory's injuries. The whole process took less than two hours.

I gaped at the intimidating man in the video and thought I saw some of Vincent, my dad's bodyguard, in him.

Dad had hired Vincent Steele as his bodyguard when I was eight, and the man had devoted most of his life to protecting Dad. Ten years later, his son stepped up and saved Dad's company.

I recalled the way Dad had frog-marched me out of the house the night before I went abroad. "Don't come back after you leave, Tess! Promise me you won't look into this or meddle with it!

"It's too dangerous for a young woman like you to get involved, do you understand? All I want is for you to live a peaceful, simple life. Promise me, Tess! Promise me!"

Tears streamed down my face as I got into the car. I nodded and promised him, "Okay."

I stopped checking in on Dad after I went abroad. I did nothing as his name and reputation were dragged through the mud. But Lorcan had been working behind the scenes for me, silently avenging my dad.

I didn't see Lorcan after that.

One day, Sabrina reached out to me and asked that I meet her at the cafe just outside the hotel. I quickly put on a change of clothes and headed out.

Sabrina was still wearing shades when she raised her hand and beckoned me over. "Hey, Mrs. Steele! Over here!"

"Shh, don't call me that!" I surveyed our surroundings and claimed the seat across from her. "What did you want to see me for?"

"Lorcan was the one who dug up all that dirt on Gregory on the internet. He did that for you, you know. If that doesn't make you Mrs. Steele, what does?" Sabrina countered under her breath, but I heard her anyway.

My heart tightened, but she continued, "Lorcan told me about your company's upcoming commercial production. I was hiding from Gregory and the others before while receiving treatment for my illness. I had to lie low and avoid the media."

"Gregory?" I repeated in surprise.

"Yeah." Sabrina sipped her iced black coffee and added teasingly, "Lorcan found all the information released through Skylark Entertainment's official channels, you know. He told me to keep an eye on them. What a genius, huh?"

My fists clenched at the explanation. I paused for what felt like a long moment, then uncurled my fingers. I smiled at Sabrina and said, "Yes, he's quite the genius."

At the end of our conversation, Sabrina and I reached a consensus over the terms of our collaboration. Before she left, she turned on her heels and asked, "By the way, did your company reach out to any other celebrity?"

I shook my head. "You're the only one we need."

I meant it, too. I booked a plane ticket for a flight back to headquarters after wrapping up negotiations here.

Jonathan had accomplished his assignment three weeks ago and missed his girlfriend back home terribly. He didn't even bother staying a night in the city and flew off the first chance he got.

As for me, I doubted there was any reason to keep me here, so why should I stay?

A bitter laugh escaped me.