Chapter 4: The re-meet

The grand entrance of the Vance estate was blinding. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings, casting sharp light over the city’s wealthiest citizens. Women in diamond necklaces and men in tailored tuxedos glided across the polished marble floor, laughing softly and sipping expensive champagne.

I stood at the top of the grand staircase, smoothing down the front of my midnight-blue blazer gown. The gold-plated belt around my waist felt like a shield. I took a slow, deep breath, letting the cool air fill my lungs.

Vivian Vance is dead, I reminded myself. She is rotting in a cell. You are Baroness Veronica Vance.

I looked down at the encrypted phone tucked safely inside my gold clutch bag. The red countdown numbers burned into my mind: 97:20:15:34.

The clock was ticking. I couldn't afford a single mistake.

With a cold, practiced smile, I walked down the stairs. My sharp, platinum-blonde bob and icy grey-blue eyes drew attention immediately. People paused their conversations, turning their heads to whisper as I passed. I ignored them all, keeping my posture perfectly rigid, moving with the lazy arrogance of old European money.

My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the target. It didn't take long.

Julian stood near the center of the ballroom, surrounded by a group of wealthy investors. He looked as handsome as ever, smiling charmingly as he gestured with his wine glass. He looked completely relaxed, like a man who hadn't destroyed his wife’s life just three weeks ago. Beside him stood Agent Miller, dressed in a civilian suit, laughing at one of Julian's jokes. Seeing them together made my blood boil, but I forced my face to remain absolute stone.

I moved toward the bar, intentionally stepping into Julian’s line of sight. I ordered a rare, expensive European wine, speaking in the slow, cosmopolitan accent I had practiced with Silas.

"Make it a vintage Bordeaux, please," I told the bartender, my voice low and smooth. "The local selections are... a bit uninspiring."

Right on cue, Julian turned around. His eyes locked onto me. I saw the immediate flash of interest in his gaze—the predatory look of a businessman who smelled money, mixed with the attraction of a man seeing a beautiful woman. He didn't recognize me at all. In his mind, his dark-haired, plain-dressed prosecutor wife was locked away forever.

Julian excused himself from his group and walked over to the bar, smoothing his jacket. He flashed the exact same warm smile that used to make my heart melt. Now, it only filled me with disgust.

"A woman of refined taste," Julian said, stepping up beside me and offering a polite bow of his head. "I must apologize for our local wine selection, Baroness. We try our best, but we rarely get guests of your stature."

I turned slowly, looking him up and down with an expression of pure boredom. "And you are?"

"Julian Vance," he said proudly, extending his hand. "CEO of Vance Shipping and Logistics. Welcome to my estate."

I looked at his extended hand for three long seconds before finally offering him just the tips of my fingers. "Baroness Veronica Winthrop Vance. A strange coincidence of names, Mr. Vance."

Julian laughed softly, clearly charmed by my coldness. Arrogant men always love a challenge. "A very pleasant coincidence, Baroness. I heard rumors that a major Swiss tech investor had arrived in the city, but I didn't expect someone so... captivating."

"Flattery is a very cheap currency, Mr. Vance," I replied, taking a delicate sip of my wine. "I am here for business, not compliments. I look for high-yield opportunities, and frankly, this city looks quite stagnant."

Julian’s smile tightened slightly. The hook was in. He was desperate for cash, and I had just told him I had money to spend.

"Stagnant? Far from it," Julian said, leaning in closer, his voice dropping to a confidential whisper. "My company is currently preparing a massive expansion into the north shipping docks. It is a highly lucrative project. We are just looking for the right foreign partner to help accelerate the growth. A hundred-million-dollar injection could double our returns within a year."

It was almost hilarious how easily he took the bait. He was practically begging for the exact amount Silas had given me.

"The north?" I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be mildly interested. "I familiarized myself with the local logistics before my flight. Isn't that territory heavily monitored by the local courts? I heard rumors that the chief prosecutor was recently arrested for corruption in that exact sector."

Julian’s face went momentarily stiff. A dark shadow passed over his eyes, but he recovered instantly, putting on a mask of deep sorrow.

"Ah, yes. A tragic situation," Julian sighed, shaking his head. "The prosecutor was... my late wife. It was a massive shock. I discovered her illegal activities myself and had to turn her in. It broke my heart, Baroness, but I value integrity above all things. My family name must remain spotless."

Hearing him say those words almost made me snap. He was standing in his luxury ballroom, bragging about framing me, using my destruction to paint himself as a hero. I gripped the stem of my wine glass so hard I thought the crystal would shatter. But the Baroness didn't break.

"How honorable of you," I said, my voice dripping with cold sarcasm that he completely missed. "To sacrifice a wife for the sake of your empire. A very... logical business decision."

"A painful one," Julian said, staring into my grey-blue eyes, completely oblivious to the hatred hidden behind them. "But now, I am looking toward the future. And I believe our futures could be very well aligned, Veronica."

He used my fake first name already. He was moving fast, trying to romance the wealthy heiress to secure his business. He wanted to use me just like he used Vivian.

Suddenly, a deep, powerful voice cut through the air behind us.

"Am I interrupting something, Julian?"

We both turned. Silas Vance stepped out of the crowd, a smirk playing on his lips. He looked incredibly imposing, his presence completely overshadowing Julian’s old-money charm.

Julian’s face darkened instantly at the sight of his rival. "Silas. I didn't know you were on the guest list."

"I go where the profit is, Julian," Silas said smoothly, stepping right beside me. He looked down at me, his grey eyes flashing with hidden amusement.

"And it seems you’ve already met the Baroness. I should warn you, Julian—she doesn't invest in sinking ships."

Julian tightened his jaw, his eyes darting between Silas and me. The rivalry between them was thick enough to cut with a knife. Julian desperately wanted to prove he was better than Silas, and losing a hundred-million-dollar investor to his worst enemy would ruin him.

"My ship is doing just fine, Silas," Julian snapped, before turning back to me with a desperate warmth in his eyes. "Baroness, the charity auction is about to begin. Please, honor me by sitting at my VIP table. Let me show you what my company is truly capable of."

I looked at Julian, then at Silas, who gave me a microscopic nod.

The game was officially on.

"Very well, Mr. Vance," I said, letting a small, dangerous smile touch my lips as I reached out and placed my hand on Julian's arm. "Show me what you have. But I must warn you... I am a very demanding woman."

Julian smiled, thinking he had won. He had no idea he had just invited his executioner to sit at his table.