جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 110

"Some are saying this is the most ruthless business move of the decade," another commentator added. "Elena of Ravenwood Industries has shown that she's not someone you want as an enemy."Elena watched these reports from her hotel room, drinking wine and feeling strangely empty. She had won. She had destroyed the Kaelthorns' business. She had her revenge.So why didn't she feel better?Her phone rang. It was Margaret calling from Lysandria."I saw the news," Margaret said when Elena answered. "Are you okay, darling?""I don't know," Elena admitted. "I did what I planned to do. I refused to save them and partnered with their competitors instead. Their business is ruined.""But you don't feel good about it," Margaret observed."I feel empty," Elena said. "Like I've been carrying this anger for eight years and now that I've acted on it, there's just a hole where the anger used to be.""That's normal," Margaret said gently. "Revenge doesn't fill the void. It just removes the thing that was

Jack put his head in his hands. "I can't believe this. My entire family is going bankrupt, our business is ruined, and it turns out we destroyed a princess. A true princess.""Does it matter?" Elena asked. "Would it have been okay to treat me badly if I really was just a poor orphan? Is abuse only wrong when the victim turns out to be important?""No, of course not," Jack said quickly. "I just mean... God, Elena, we were so wrong about you.""Yes, you were," Elena agreed. "You judged me based on my background instead of my character. You decided I was worthless because I grew up poor. You never even tried to see who I really was as a person."Jack looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "I'm so sorry. I'm so incredibly sorry for everything I did to you. Everything my family did. If I could go back and change it all, I would.""But you can't," Elena said. "Those three years happened. You hurt me. Your mother humiliated me. Victoria destroyed me. And I had to pick up the pieces and reb

"We can go anywhere you want," Elena promised.After talking to the boys, Elena called Aurora."I took off the mask," Elena said. "Jack came to my house and I let him see my face. I told him everything.""How do you feel?" Aurora asked."Good," Elena said honestly. "Really good. Like I've been hiding for eight years and now I can finally breathe.""I'm proud of you," Aurora said. "And Elena? Damien and I want to take you out to dinner when you get back. A celebration dinner.""I'd like that," Elena said. "How are things with him?""Amazing," Aurora said with happiness in her voice. "His mother loves me, Vivienne is out of our lives, and we're talking about moving in together.""That's wonderful," Elena said sincerely. "You deserve happiness, Aurora.""So do you," Aurora replied. "And Elena? I think you're going to find it. Now that you've let go of the anger and the hiding, I think you're ready to really live."They talked for a few more minutes before saying goodbye. Then Elena finis

Victoria jumped up from the chair. "Jack! I didn't know you were back. This isn't what it looks like.""Really?" Mrs. Kaelthorn said icily. "Because it looks like you're having a secret meeting with a man you've been conspiring with for years."Jack walked into the study and closed the door behind them. "Richard here has been very informative. He's told us all about your arrangement. How you've been manipulating me since James was born.""That's not true," Victoria said desperately. "Jack, he's lying. He's just angry because I rejected his advances years ago.""Am I lying about the fake twin pregnancy?" Richard asked.The room went completely silent."What?" Jack said slowly.Richard pulled out his phone and showed Jack something on the screen. "These are medical records from when Victoria first got pregnant with James. They show a single fetus. Not twins."Jack stared at the screen. "But Victoria told me she was having twins. She said she lost one of them early in the pregnancy.""Sh

Victoria laughed, but it came out as a sob. This was karma, this was justice and this was what happened when you built your life on lies.Her phone rang. It was Richard."What do you want?" Victoria answered."I want to apologize," Richard said, though he didn't sound sorry. "I shouldn't have told them everything. But Victoria, you left me no choice, I was angry. You used me for years.""And you used me," Victoria shot back. "You wanted my connections and my money. Don't pretend this was about love.""Maybe it was about both," Richard said. "But it doesn't matter now. We're both finished in this town. The Kaelthorns will make sure everyone knows what we did.""I know," Victoria said tiredly."So what are you going to do?" Richard asked."I don't know," Victoria admitted. "Find somewhere cheap to live. Maybe get a job as a waitress or something. Pray that Jack doesn't fight me too hard for custody of James.""He'll get custody," Richard said bluntly. "You lied and manipulated. No judge