Chapter 124The private dining room at the Ritz-Carlton was carefully selected for its soundproof walls and complete privacy. Charles Jones sat at the head of the mahogany table, studying the three Caldwell family members who had arrived for this desperate meeting. Emily looked haggard despite her expensive clothes, Samuel appeared to be fighting a losing battle with alcohol, and Richard seemed older than his years."Thank you all for coming," Charles said, gesturing for them to take their seats. "I believe we have much to discuss about our mutual enemy."Emily sat down with the rigid posture of someone trying to maintain dignity in the face of complete social destruction. "Mr. Jones, we need to move quickly. Every day we delay gives Alexander Kane more time to consolidate his position.""I understand the urgency," Charles replied smoothly. "But before we proceed, I need to know exactly what resources you're willing to commit to this operation."Samuel poured himself a generous glass
Chapter 123Alexander stood up from the bed and walked to the safe hidden behind a painting on their bedroom wall. Mona watched as he entered a long combination, his fingers moving with practiced precision despite the emotion still raw on his face."There's more you need to know," he said quietly, pulling out a thick manila envelope. "About your parents. About why Emily targeted your family specifically."Mona felt her blood turn cold. "What about my parents?""David and Margaret Smith weren't random victims," Alexander said, returning to sit beside her. "They were connected to my father's business long before Emily ever met you.""That's impossible," Mona whispered. "My parents had their own company. They never mentioned knowing any Caldwells."Alexander opened the envelope and pulled out several old documents, photographs, and business records. "Your father and mine were partners, Mona. Before Emily destroyed everything, before the fraud accusations, David Smith was James Caldwell S
Chapter 122Alexander walked to their bedroom window, pressing his palm against the cool glass as memories of his mother flooded through him. Mona remained seated on the bed, watching him struggle with the pain of reliving the darkest chapters of his life."Harrison Kane gave us five years of peace," Alexander said quietly. "Five years where my mother could sleep without nightmares, where I could go to school like a normal child. We thought we were safe.""What changed?" Mona asked, though she dreaded the answer."My mother never forgot who we really were," Alexander replied. "She never stopped believing that justice would eventually catch up with Emily. And as I got older, as I started asking questions about my real father, she realized she couldn't keep the truth buried forever."Alexander turned from the window, his face showing the strain of reliving these memories. "When I turned thirteen, my mother decided it was time to reclaim our rightful place in the world.""She wanted to g
Chapter 121Mona sat motionless on the bed, her hands gripping the closed suitcase as she waited for Alexander to speak. The silence stretched between them like an eternity, heavy with the weight of secrets that were finally about to be revealed.Alexander walked to the window where she had been standing earlier, his back turned to her as he gathered the courage to destroy the carefully constructed life they had built together."The photograph you found," he began, his voice barely audible, "shows me with my father and my uncle.""Your uncle," Mona repeated quietly."Richard Caldwell is my father's younger brother," Alexander said, still facing the window. "My blood uncle."The words hit Mona like physical blows. She had suspected some family connection, but this was beyond anything she had imagined. "Richard Caldwell is your uncle?""Was my uncle," Alexander corrected bitterly. "Before he helped murder my father."Mona's breath caught in her throat. "Murder?"Alexander turned around
Chapter 120Mona stood by the windows of their bedroom, watching the morning rain streak down the glass. She had barely slept, her mind churning with questions about the photograph she had found in Alexander's study. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw that image - a young boy who looked exactly like her husband standing between two men who appeared to be brothers.Behind her, she could hear Alexander moving around the room, getting dressed for another day of business meetings and corporate warfare. The same routine they had followed for months, but now everything felt different. Now she knew he was keeping secrets that went to the very heart of who he was."You're quiet this morning," Alexander said, his voice carefully neutral.Mona didn't turn around. "I didn't sleep well.""Bad dreams?""No dreams at all," she replied. "Just thoughts. Lots of thoughts."Alexander's reflection appeared in the window behind her as he approached. She could see his face, concerned but guarded, wat
Chapter 119The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Alexander's study as Mona carefully placed books back on their shelves. He had been working late again, papers scattered across every surface, coffee cups forgotten on side tables. She had offered to tidy up while he attended his board meeting, grateful for something to occupy her mind after the previous night's events at the charity gala.The image of Sarah Caldwell's humiliation still haunted her. Despite everything the Caldwell family had done, watching a young woman's public destruction felt wrong. But Alexander had been strangely quiet about the entire incident, his satisfaction muted by something she couldn't identify.As Mona gathered the scattered documents from his desk, a manila folder slipped from beneath a stack of financial reports. Papers scattered across the floor, and she knelt to collect them, not wanting to disturb Alexander's careful organization.Most of the documents were business-related - cont