Chapter 3: Blood Money

Harry Vida. 

He was a serpent in human skin, the the kind of man who smiled warmly while sliding a knife between your ribs. He lied with effortless charm, made you believe he was your ally, then pulled the rug out from under you when it benefited him most. Oren had heard her mother speak of him once as a “trusted friend” in the underworld. That friendship, she suspected, had cost her mother her life.

The next morning, James kept his word.

They drove down from the cliffside castle under heavy guard. His hand rested possessively on Oren’s thigh the entire ride. The silver locket felt like a live grenade in her pocket.

When they reached her father’s decaying apartment, Oren moved quickly. She pried up the loose floorboard and retrieved the locket. Relief flooded her until she opened it in the car. The microSD card was gone.

Her blood turned to ice. She didn't spiral. Only chaotic silence and thoughts running wild.

That night, back in the castle, everything shattered.

James received a call while reviewing footage of her father’s new luxurious life. His expression darkened.

“Harry Vida just received a package,” he said slowly. “A microSD card from your father. Your mother’s old evidence. The kind that could expose dangerous secrets in my world. Secrets I worked so hard to build and keep. Secrets I want to remain secrets”

Oren’s stomach dropped.

James turned to her, eyes sharp. Almost angry. “You knew about this card, didn’t you?”

She gave him a careful piece. “My mother mentioned Harry Vida before she died. She trusted him once. Then she started fearing him.”

James exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his hair. For the first time, he looked almost haunted. “Do you know what is in there?” 

Silence.

“Vida came to me years ago,” he admitted. “He convinced me your mother was feeding information to my rivals. He painted her as a threat that could bring everything down. I gave the order to silence her before I realized she had a daughter. Before I knew anything about you.”

Oren stared at him, heart pounding. The suspicion that had been gnawing at her since her mother’s death now had weight. Harry Vida had motive. He had means. And he had used James as the weapon.

Her world tilted.

Rage exploded through her like wildfire.

“You killed my mother?” Her voice cracked with fury. She hit and shoved him hard in the chest, eyes blazing with pure hatred. “You gave the order? All this time you’ve been pretending to care, acting like you’re my savior, when you’re the bastard who murdered mother?”

James didn’t stop her. He let her push him, pain flashing across his face.

“I didn’t know,” he said hoarsely. “Vida played me. He lies beautifully, gets close,  then pulls the rug. I’ve seen him do it to others. I just never thought I’d be one of his victims.” I was too late to stop it once I learned the truth. Look, I swear to you, Oren Gallamor - I will find out exactly what happened. I will drag Harry Vida behs for forgiveness before I kill him. Even if it costs me everything.”

Oren laughed bitterly, tears burning in her eyes, voice cracking like it's breaking. “You expect me to believe you? You ordered her death to protect your precious empire. And now you want me to marry you? To stand beside the man who destroyed my family?”

The silence between them was suffocating.

James stepped closer, but stopped when she flinched. The obsessive fire in his eyes warred with raw regret.

“I know that I can’t change the past,” he said quietly. “But what I’m offering you is the future. Power. Revenge. Me. Take it all… or walk away right now and see how far you get.”

Oren stood still, the locket, hot in her hand.

She was trapped in the castle of the devil who had murdered her mother.

And the worst part?

A treacherous, broken part of her still wanted him. Even as she burned with rage and fresh hatred.