All Chapters of Love in the Shadows of Legacy: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Alexander's POVLily walked into the conference room at 9 AM on Friday morning, and I knew immediately something had changed by the way she looked at me.Not hostile exactly but not as guarded as she'd been yesterday when she'd accused me of framing Victor."We need to talk before the board meeting," she said quietly.I followed her to Richard's private office and closed the door while she pulled out her laptop."I spent last night researching Victor Walter. Every business deal, every partnership, every lawsuit from the past fifteen years." She opened files showing pages of notes and highlighted articles. "You were right about him. He's destroyed every company he's claimed to help."Relief flooded through me so intensely that I had to sit down. "So you're not taking his offer?""I canceled our meeting this morning. Told him I needed more time to prepare for the board presentation." She showed me the text exchange with Victor. "He tried to pressure me into deciding quickly. Classic man

Alexander's POVThe media storm erupted on Saturday morning with the news of the arrests."Thompson Enterprises Executives Arrested for $183 Million Embezzlement" was the lead story on every business channel.My phone started ringing at 6 AM with reporters asking for comments and investors demanding explanations.By 8 AM our PR team had scheduled an emergency press conference for noon to get ahead of the narrative."We need both of you there," Janet told Lily and me in a conference call. "United leadership showing the company is stable despite the scandal.""I've never done a press conference," Lily said and I could hear the nervousness in her voice."You'll be fine. Just stick to the talking points and don't let them bait you into saying something off script." I was already reviewing the statement our lawyers had prepared. "I'll handle the aggressive questions."At 11:30 AM Lily and I met in the lobby where our PR team had set up a podium with the Thompson Enterprises logo.She wore

Alexander's POVI couldn't tell Lily that Richard was her father without being absolutely certain of the biological connection because destroying her with false information would be worse than any other mistake I'd made.Richard's letter claimed Elena was pregnant when they broke up, but the timeline didn't quite add up, and I needed scientific proof before revealing something that would change Lily's entire understanding of her identity and inheritance.Sunday morning I sat in my apartment staring at the contact information for a private DNA testing lab that James had recommended, the kind that rich people used for paternity disputes they wanted kept quiet and confidential.The problem was I needed Lily's DNA, and asking her directly would require explaining why, which meant telling her about Richard before I had proof, which defeated the entire purpose of testing in the first place.I could wait until after I told her tonight and then suggest testing together but that felt cruel to

Lily's POVRafael texted Tuesday afternoon, asking me to meet him at Martinez Art Supplies, where we used to have painting sessions before my life exploded into corporate chaos.Please Lily. I need to talk to you about something important. 6 PM at the studio?I almost said no because I had a million things to handle at work but something in his tone made me agree.At six, I walked into the familiar space that smelled like oil paint and turpentine, and for a moment, I could pretend I was still just an artist without billions of dollars and corporate conspiracies weighing on me.Rafael was setting up easels in the corner where we'd spent countless hours painting together, and he smiled when he saw me, but it didn't reach his eyes."Thanks for coming. I know you're busy saving the world.""Not the world. Just one very dysfunctional company." I sat on a paint-stained stool. "What's so important Rafael?"He didn't answer right away, just kept adjusting easels that didn't need adjusting whi

Alexander's POVI was leaving the office Tuesday evening at six when I saw Lily walking toward her car in the parking garage and Rafael Delgado was waiting by the entrance.She smiled when she saw him, and they talked for a moment before getting into her car together, which made my stomach twist with something that felt uncomfortably like jealousy.I had no right to feel jealous because Lily and I weren't together, and Rafael had known her for years while I'd spent most of our relationship trying to destroy her.But watching her drive away with him made me want to put my fist through something.I sat in my car telling myself to go home and work on the debt restructuring proposal like a rational person.Instead, I started my engine and followed them at a distance because apparently, I'd become the kind of person who stalked the woman he had complicated feelings for.They drove to Martinez Art Supplies and entered through the back entrance, which led to the private studio space that Mr.