All Chapters of Ashes Of His Regret : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

DAMIEN'S POVThe war room as i do call it is exactly how it is named after.Three walls covered in screens. Financial data. Surveillance footage. Evidence trees mapping eight years of Julian Voss's crimes.Marcus is presenting. Six other team members listened."The offshore accounts are fully mapped," Marcus says, pulling up a diagram. "Three in the Cayman Islands. Two in Luxembourg. One in Singapore. Total holdings: approximately eighty-seven million dollars."I lean forward. "Tax implications?""Massive. He's been moving money offshore for six years. Never reported any of it. The IRS would have a field day.""Good. What else?"Another team member Sarah, our forensic accountant, stands up. "The Morrison company sabotage is documented. We have the shell companies he used. The board member he bribed. The timing of the stock manipulation. It's airtight.""Airtight enough for criminal charges?""Civil charges, definitely. Criminal... maybe. Depends on how aggressive the prosecutor wants

VIVIENNE'S POVLunch with Katherine is purely strategic,Katherine runs the society pages for three major publications. She decides what's news and what's gossip and what's quietly buried.We're at Sant Ambroeus. Visible. Public. The kind of place where being seen matters."Vivienne, darling." Katherine air-kisses both cheeks. "You look radiant."I'm eight months pregnant and exhausted. But I smile anyway."Thank you. You look wonderful as always."We order. Salads we won't eat. Water with lemon.Small talk for ten minutes. Her daughter's wedding. My mother's charity event. The usual.Then I lean in slightly. Lower my voice."Can I ask you something? Off the record?"Katherine's eyes sharpen. This is what she came for."Of course.""Have you heard anything about Damien Hale's marriage?""To Esmeralda Morrison? I covered their wedding. Beautiful couple.""Yes. But..." I pause. Let her lean in. "I've been hearing things. From friends. About how quickly it happened. About the circumstan

ESMERALDA'S POV "You need to look untouchable," he said this morning. "Like you own the room before you even walk in." He said as he handed me the Custom Valentino gown.The charity auction is at the Met. The Children's hospital fundraiser. The kind of event where a thousand dollars is the minimum donation just to get through the door.Everyone who matters will be there.Including Julian. And Vivienne. And Celeste."Ready?" Damien asks.He's in Tom Ford. Black tie. Looking like he was born wearing a tuxedo."As I'll ever be.""Remember—""I know. Confidence. Grace. Make them watch me, not her."He almost smiles. "Exactly."The car drops us at the main entrance. Photographers everywhere. This is that kind of event.Damien's hand settles on my lower back as we walk in. Possessive. Claiming.The cameras eat it up.Inside, the main hall is exactly what you'd expect. Crystal chandeliers. Ice sculptures. Wait staff in white gloves carrying champagne.And people. Hundreds of them.All of t

JULIAN'S POVI can't stop watching them.Damien's hand on her lower back. Casual. Possessive. Like it belongs there.Like she belongs to him.They're leaving. Walking through the crowd toward the exit. People part for them automatically. Like they're royalty.Esmeralda says somethiing. Damien leans down to hear her better.She laughs.I've never seen her laugh like that with me. Free. Unguarded."Julian."Vivienne's voice. I don't turn."Julian, can we go? I'm tired.""In a minute."They're at the door now. Damien helps her with her coat. His hands linger on her shoulders.She looks up at him. Says something I can't hear.He almost smiles."Julian." Vivienne's hand on my arm now. "I said I'm tired.""I heard you.""Then let's go.""You go. I'll get a cab later.""What? No. Julian, I'm eight and a half months pregnant. I can't just—""Then call the car. I'll meet you at home."She goes very still."You're staying.""I have people to talk to.""You're staying to watch her."I don't answ

VIVIENNE'S POVThe envelope was delivered to the hospital, while I was still here. Overnight observation because the baby's heart rate spiked again after Julian left.He hasn't come back. No text. No call.The same nonsense he did with his pathetic ex wife, why did I think that he would change, that was who he was, leaving his pregnant women in the hospital. I will teach him a lesson Just me and the monitors and the same four walls.The nurse brings it in with my breakfast."This came for you. Want me to open it?""I've got it. Thank you."She leaves.I stare at the envelope for a long moment.Plain. Unmarked. But I know what it is.The PI's final delivery.I open it slowly.The first page is a cover letter.Ms. Laurent,Attached is everything I was able to obtain regarding the Hale-Morrison marriage contract. Please note that much of it remains redacted due to legal seals. However, what's included should be sufficient for your purposes.As discussed, obtaining this information requi