Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Second Wife's Revenge : Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 90

James Sterling called two hours later. Voice shaking."I need to see you again. Somewhere private. It's important.""Why should I trust you?""Because I lied to you earlier. And I need to tell the truth before Catherine kills me."We met in Central Park. Isolated path. Late evening. Dante watching from a distance.James looked terrible. Pale. Sweating. Eyes darting."You're not wearing a wire?" he asked."No. Are you?""Yes. Always. Catherine insists. But I disabled it. For this conversation. I have maybe ten minutes before she notices.""What's going on?"James sat on a bench. Head in hands. "This was all a trap. From the beginning. Catherine planted me at Whitmore Capital three years ago specifically for this.""For what?""For you. For when you started investigating your kidnapping. She knew eventually you'd find out about my father. About his connection to your mother. She knew you'd come looking for me."My stomach dropped. "She set this up three years ago?""Yes. Catherine think

The email came three days later. Different sender. Same offer.*Ms. Winters,**I understand your concerns about anonymous donations. I've instructed my bank to provide full documentation of fund origins. All legal. All clean. No connection to any criminal organizations.**However, I require one condition: a private meeting before transferring funds. I want to meet the woman doing this important work. Understand her vision. Ensure my money goes to the right place.**If you agree, I'll arrange a meeting. Neutral location. Your security team welcome. Just you, me, and a conversation.**After our meeting, if you're satisfied, the money is yours. Twenty million. No strings.**Respectfully,* *A Friend*I forwarded it to Santos. "Can you verify the bank documentation?""Already on it. Give me two hours."Two hours later, he called back. "The money is clean. Traced to a legitimate offshore account. No connection to Catherine Cross, Covenant shell companies, or any criminal enterprises we ca

Schaffer's debriefing happened in a secure FBI facility. Windowless room. Recording equipment. Lawyers present.Santos, Marcus, and I sat across from him. Schaffer looked older. Tired. Scared."Tell us about Phoenix Protocol," Santos said.Schaffer pulled out notes. Handwritten. Detailed."Phoenix Protocol is The Covenant's contingency plan. If leadership is compromised, the organization rebuilds under new management. New structure. New operations.""We know that part. Tell us what Catherine's planning.""She's targeting everyone who helped convict Julian. Systematically. FBI agents. Prosecutors. Witnesses. She has a list of forty-seven people."My stomach dropped. "Forty-seven?""Yes. You're number one. Marcus is number three. Agent Santos is number seven. She's prioritizing based on impact. Who hurt The Covenant most.""When does she move?"Schaffer hesitated. "I overheard a conversation. Three days before I resigned. Catherine was discussing timing with Robert Hartley. They mention

Two PM arrived faster than expected.Guests filled the chairs. Thirty people. Not many. But enough. Each one searched. Vetted. Background checked by FBI.Foundation board members in the front row. Dr. Morgan beside Rachel who would officiate. Schaffer in the back, still under protection. Looking older. Tired. But present.Dante's full security team positioned throughout the property. Twelve men. Armed. Professional. Watching the tree line. Watching the single access road. Watching everything.FBI snipers invisible in the woods. Santos coordinating through his earpiece. Emergency helicopter on standby two miles away.A wedding. A fortress. Both.I stood in the small bedroom. Looking at myself in the mirror. Navy blue dress. Simple. Tea length. Not white. Not traditional. Not bridal.On my terms.Sienna adjusted my hair. Her own dress gray. Elegant. Hands shaking slightly."You look beautiful," she said."I look terrified.""That too. But beautiful."Sofia spun in her flower girl dress.

The helicopter ride took thirty minutes. Longest thirty minutes of my life.We landed at a federal facility. Somewhere in New Jersey. Secure. Underground parking. Heavy security.The captured operative was taken immediately. FBI agents surrounding him. Medical team waiting."Gunshot wound. Side. Non-fatal but needs treatment," Dante said. His voice rough. Damaged from the fight.They loaded the operative onto a stretcher. Wheeled him inside.We followed. Down concrete hallways. Fluorescent lights. Sterile. Cold.A conference room. Large. Empty except for a table and chairs."Wait here," Santos said. "Medical will check everyone. Then debriefing."He left. Door closing with a heavy click.We sat in silence. Sienna still holding Sofia. The little girl finally asleep. Exhausted by terror.Dante examined his throat in the reflection of the window. Purple bruises. Deep. Fingerprints visible where hands had crushed.Marcus held my hand. Neither of us speaking.I looked down at my dress. Nav