Semua Bab wounded Heart : Bab 121 - Bab 130

The shadow board's demand hung in the air between them like a physical presence. Twelve hours to present their claims. Twelve hours before Alex would be expected to join in matrimony with Elizabeth Kincaid—a woman he'd never met—to preserve everything his father had built.Alex's hand remained firmly entwined with Sonia's, his thumb tracing unconscious circles against her skin. The gesture wasn't lost on Geneva, whose perfect composure had finally cracked to reveal the calculation beneath."The board will not negotiate," Geneva said, her voice steady despite her precarious position. "Elizabeth Kincaid brings connections we desperately need if Rodriguez Enterprises is to survive.""And what about what I need?" Alex countered, his gaze shifting to Sonia. In her eyes, he found the strength he'd been searching for his entire life—not in boardrooms or billion-dollar acquisitions, but in the unwavering support of someone who saw him completely.James cleared his throat. "The tactical team a

Silence hung in the chapel like shattered glass. Alex's arm tightened around Sonia's waist as they faced Elisabeth Kincaid and her security team."The ceremony is complete," Father Anton said calmly. "This union has been consecrated before God."Elisabeth's laughter echoed against the ancient stones. "God has precious little influence over corporate bylaws, Father." Her gaze slid to Geneva. "I'm disappointed in you, Geneva. I expected better from Carlos's widow.""This isn't about expectations," Geneva replied steadily. "It's about Carlos's vision. A vision you've twisted beyond recognition.""The board votes unanimously. As of nine this morning, Alexander Rodriguez has been removed as CEO of Rodriguez Enterprises."The revelation hit Alex like a punch to the gut, but he betrayed nothing."On what grounds?" he asked, his voice dangerously soft."Breach of fiduciary duty. Mental instability. Reckless endangerment of company assets." She paused. "The list continues, but the result remai

The ventilation shaft was narrower than it appeared—a tight metal tunnel never meant for human passage. Sonia pulled herself forward on elbows and knees, the file clutched awkwardly against her chest, the cool metal chilling her skin through her torn clothes."Keep moving," Alex whispered urgently from behind her. "They'll have the building's security grid activated by now."The sounds of pursuit echoed below—Elisabeth's controlled commands punctuated by DuPont's more colorful French expletives. Bank security alarms wailed distantly, suggesting the entire building was now in lockdown."Left at the next junction," Alex directed. "It should lead to the maintenance corridor."Sonia's mind raced as fast as her heartbeat. The file labeled "MARTINEZ INCIDENT" contained something significant about her father—not his death as she'd mistakenly thought in the moment of panic, but something else. Something Carlos Rodriguez had considered important enough to keep in his most secure vault.The jun

The yacht sliced through the Mediterranean darkness, waves crashing against its hull as they put distance between themselves and Monaco. Sonia stood at the stern, eyes fixed on the receding coastline where she'd glimpsed her father—a ghost made flesh after decades of absence."I need answers," she whispered as Alex joined her. "Years believing he was dead while he watched from the shadows."Alex wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "We'll find him. But first, we need to ensure DuPont and James don't find us."Below deck, David worked feverishly to disable the yacht's tracking systems. "Standard transponders are offline," he reported when they joined him. "But we should assume they have other methods to locate us."Sonia spread the salvaged documents across the cabin table—fragments of Project Lazarus, a technological breakthrough that had apparently driven both her father into hiding and Carlos Rodriguez to his grave."There's a connection between my father's disappearance and Carlos'

In the underground bunker, time seemed to freeze. Alex stared at his mother, his mind struggling to process DuPont's words."Sister?"he repeated, looking between Geneva and Marcel DuPont. "He's your brother?"Geneva's posture remained rigid as she faced her sibling. "Half-brother. Same father, different ambitions.""You always did have a flair for understatement," DuPont remarked, stepping fully into the bunker with Elisabeth close behind. His security team remained at the threshold, weapons ready but not raised. "Twenty years of hiding, and that's your greeting?""What would you prefer?" Geneva asked coldly. "A family reunion dinner to celebrate how you've corrupted our father's research?"Sonia moved closer to Alex, feeling his body tense beside her. She slipped her hand into his, a silent reminder of their vow to face everything together."Our father," DuPont corrected, walking casually toward the laboratory equipment, "created Project Lazarus to heal broken minds. You and your hus