All Chapters of Ruthless Vows: The Billionaire Revenge: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

"My parents died because of your mother."Damien dropped the file on the table. Photos spilled out — old, grainy, but clear enough. Celeste’s mother, younger, standing over two bodies."What is this?" Celeste whispered."The truth. The real one. Not the story she fed you."They were in a cheap motel room. Run down. Safe for now. After Liam’s death, they’d scattered and regrouped here.Celeste picked up a photo and stared. Her mother’s face — cold, a gun in her hand."When was this taken?" she asked."Twenty years ago. The night my parents were executed.""Executed. Not killed in a war.""No. Murdered. In cold blood, while they slept."Celeste’s hands shook. She set the photo down. "How did you get these?""I’ve been digging for years. Finally found someone who was there. They sent the files before they died.""Who?""Doesn’t matter. They’re dead now."Celeste sat. Her legs wouldn’t hold her. "Tell me everything."Damien’s face was hard and tired. "My family, the Crosses — we weren’t m

"I'm done running."Celeste stood inside the antique church as rain hammered the roof. She had texted Damien the deal with and told him to come alone. He came — soaked, tired, but there."Me too," he said quietly.They stood still, just staring. No words, only a silence that stated the whole lot."I am sorry," Celeste stated at last. "For pushing you away. For not trusting you. For all of it.""Don’t," Damien said. "I get it. I probably would’ve done the same.""Would you?"He smiled slightly. "Maybe not. But I understand why you did."Celeste stepped closer. "Mila’s gone. Rylan’s making his move. My mother’s closing in. We’re out of time and out of human beings.""So what do we do now?""Now we stop fighting each other. We combat them. Collectively."Damien let out a quiet snort. "I thought you’d never say that."They sat on a broken pew. The church became old and bloodless, however in some way it felt secure — just like the world couldn’t attain them right here."Tell me the truth,"

"Don't press it."Celeste’s voice was calm — too calm. Her mother’s finger hovered over the detonator."Give me one reason," her mother said."Because you’re bluffing. You won’t kill yourself. You love power too much."Her mother smiled faintly. "You think you know me.""I do. Better than you think."Silence filled the room. Every second stretched.Then her mother lowered the detonator — just a little. "You’re right. I won’t die today. But you’re not winning either."She pressed another hidden button on the desk.Gas hissed through the vents. Sweet-smelling. Chemical."Sleep gas," her mother said. "You’ll wake up in your cells. Where you belong."Celeste held her breath. So did Damien and Elena. But the guards didn’t. They breathed it in and began collapsing.Her mother slipped on a mask. "I’m always three steps ahead, darling."Celeste’s lungs burned. She couldn’t last much longer. Neither could Damien.Then the window exploded. Glass shattered everywhere. Someone swung in through th

"What's your name?" Celeste asked gently.The girl just stared, scared and trembling. They were back in the cabin, at least safe for now."It’s alright," Celeste murmured, keeping her voice soft. "You’re safe here. No one’s going to hurt you."The girl didn’t answer. She handiest watched Celeste, as though trying to determine whether to consider her….or whether or not she became even real.Damien came over with a bottle of water and a plate of food while the girl grabbed it quickly and ate it like she had not tasted food for days.“She seems precisely like you,” Elena whispered "Identical face. Identical eyes. It’s creepy.""She’s my sister," Celeste said. "Another version of Silent Crown. Another experiment.""Does she talk?""I don’t know yet."They gave her space. Let her eat. Rest. Process.Hours passed. The girl stayed in the corner, watching everyone. Not trusting.Finally, she spoke. "Mila."Celeste turned. "What?""My name. They called me Mila. Subject Fourteen.""I’m Celeste.

"She's been injected with something else."Celeste’s words froze everyone. Mila lay on the bed…breathing steady now, but that mark on her arm said trouble."What do you mean?" Damien asked."Look. This mark isn’t from the antidote. It’s new. She got it before we came back."The doctor checked it. His face was drained of color. "You’re right. At least six hours old. Before the poisoning.""What did they inject her with?" Elena asked."I don’t know," he said quietly. "But your mother planned this."Damien started pacing, angry and tired. "So the whole thing was a setup. The poison. The antidote. Everything.""She wanted us to run to her," Celeste said. "She wanted this exact moment.""For what?""I don’t know yet. But we’ll find out."They drew Mila’s blood. The doctor worked nonstop for hours and when he came back, his hands were shaking."It’s a tracker," he said. "Microscopic. In her bloodstream. It’s sending her location right now."Celeste’s stomach dropped. "She knows where we are