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Ten Million and One Dollars 10
Elena looked at him, her expression unreadable."Surviving taught me one thing. The love of the dead and the guilt of the living are worth exactly the same. Nothing."Julian, I don't hate you."Because even hating you would take more energy than you're worth."Elena stepped into the elevator and turned to face him."Take care of yourself, Mr. Vaughn."Enjoy your ten billion dollars. I hope you live a very long life."The elevator doors slowly slid shut.Julian's outstretched hands dropped limply to his sides.His broken sobs echoed down the empty hallway....That evening, Elena stood by the lake in her coat.Lucas came over and handed her a freshly signed document."Everything's finalized, Elena." Lucas smiled broadly. "Everyone's putting together a celebration for you tonight."Elena took the document and let out a long breath.The gloom that had weighed on her for two years finally lifted in the evening breeze.This time, her fate was entirely in her own hands.A black car was parke
Ten Million and One Dollars 9
Hands shaking, he took a faded wooden box from his bag and gently slid it across the conference table.The lid was open a crack. Inside lay the antique sapphire brooch, polished until it looked new.Its gold setting was spotless.Elena looked at the brooch for one second.Just one.Then she looked away as if it were nothing."I went to the pawnshop."It's the only thing your mother left you."Julian took a deep breath. Every word was a struggle."I bought everything back. I haven't touched a single thing in the apartment you owned before we got married."A tear slid down his cheek."Elena, I didn't come here to bother you. I'm not asking you to forgive me."I know what I've done is unforgivable. I don't deserve your forgiveness."I just couldn't leave the one thing you had left of your mother in a place like that."Please take it. Will you?"The air was heavy. Julian waited for her verdict.Even if she threw the box at him and cursed him out like she would have two years ago, he'd take
Ten Million and One Dollars 8
Two years can change a person completely.The man who'd once been so proud and untouchable now looked sick and worn out.The moment Julian saw Elena, his hand clenched into a fist against his thigh.More than 700 days.He'd searched every city where she might have gone. He'd even prepared himself to spend the rest of his life never knowing where she'd ended up.And now she was sitting right across the table from him.She was alive. More than that, she was radiant.The other executives in the room felt the tension and held their breath.Lucas gave Julian a puzzled look and was about to introduce them, but Elena was already on her feet, perfectly composed.She wore a polished, professional smile.She held out her hand."Mr. Vaughn, nice to meet you. I'm Elena Shaffer, head of Shaffer Capital."Not Mrs. Vaughn.Elena Shaffer.Julian's eyes reddened.He took a deep breath and reached out to shake her hand.His grip was barely more than a touch.Cold. Like a stranger's.Julian swallowed har
Ten Million and One Dollars 7
78 calls.78 names.Most of them had kicked Elena while she was down and mocked her as she begged for her life."Get the car."Time to pay these... old friends a visit."First stop: the home of David Kessler, a former senior executive.Years earlier, Elena had personally helped David break into investment banking and taught him everything he knew.But when she called begging for a loan, David claimed he was only following Julian's wishes and hung up on her.When Julian showed up with six bodyguards, David was in the middle of celebrating his latest promotion.The moment David saw Julian, who looked like death itself, his glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor."Mr. Vaughn? What are you doing here?""When Elena called you, how many seconds did it take you to hang up?"David broke out in a cold sweat."Julian, it was a misunderstanding! Chloe said you and Elena were just fighting... I was only trying to protect your reputation!""My reputation?"Julian threw a stack of do
Ten Million and One Dollars 6
Julian looked up, murder in his eyes.He seized Chloe by the throat, lifted her clear off the floor, and slammed her into the bookshelf."Julian... let go... It's me, Chloe... I'm like a sister to you...""A sister?"Blood dripped from Julian's knuckles onto Chloe's designer dress."She was begging me for help, and you heard every word!"You made me think it was just another one of her pranks. You even laughed. How could you be so vicious?"One of the FBI agents stepped forward. "Ms. Bennett, we recovered another recording from one of the kidnappers we arrested."Before the kidnappers ever called Julian, you'd already received a text saying, 'We've got her.'"Then you played along with the kidnappers on the phone to cover up the truth."The handcuffs snapped shut around Chloe's wrists."You're under arrest for conspiracy to commit kidnapping."Chloe nearly fainted from fear. She threw her arms around Julian's leg and clung to him for dear life."Julian! I was wrong! I was just jealous
Ten Million and One Dollars 5
"A kidnapping?"Dread rose inside Julian, but he forced himself to stay calm."I think you have the wrong man. I don't know any criminals.""The wrong man?"One of the FBI agents scoffed and slammed a case file down on the coffee table.The file fell open, exposing a set of gruesome crime-scene photos.They showed a pillar stained with blood, cigarette butts and shell casings scattered across the floor, and a bloody drag mark several yards long."Four days ago, a highly dangerous gang abducted a victim in an underground parking garage."DNA testing confirmed that all the blood at the scene came from one person."Your wife. Elena."Julian's vision went dark. His ears rang."What... what did you say?"His voice shook."That's impossible... Four days ago, it was all an act. Chloe heard it herself. It was just a prank. She was just upset with me...""A prank?"The detective stared at him as if Julian had just told the most absurd joke imaginable. He couldn't hide his anger.He pulled out a
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