Chapter 2 - Victoria Sterling did not panic.At least, she didn't panic where anyone could see.

She had built an empire by understanding one simple truth.

Fear belonged to the person who showed it first.

So even as police vehicles approached the estate, Victoria straightened her shoulders.

“Everyone,” she announced, “remain calm.”

Nobody moved.

One of the guests quietly set down his champagne glass.

Another discreetly began recording.

Victoria looked at Julian.

“You are coming with me.”

Julian didn't move.

His eyes remained on Elena.

“What did you do?”

Elena met his stare.

“What I had to.”

“You knew?”

“No.”

The answer came too quickly.

Julian's expression hardened.

“You knew about my mother's vault.”

“Yes.”

“You knew the ring was a key.”

“Yes.”

“And you never told me?”

Elena's voice softened.

“If I'd told you, you would've tried to stop me.”

“I would have protected you.”

“You would have protected her.”

Silence.

That sentence hurt more than Julian expected.

Because somewhere inside him, he knew it was true.

His entire childhood had taught him that Victoria was the center of gravity.

Everyone orbited her.

Including him.

The front doors opened.

A line of federal investigators entered.

At the front was a woman in a dark navy coat.

“Victoria Sterling?”

Victoria stepped forward.

“Yes.”

“You are being investigated for financial fraud, customs violations, money laundering, and conspiracy.”

The ballroom erupted.

Guests backed away.

Phones came out.

Julian stared at Elena.

She remained perfectly still.

The investigator approached.

“Mrs. Sterling, we're going to need access to your offices, private financial records, and international accounts.”

Victoria gave a humorless smile.

“You don't have jurisdiction over my private financial holdings.”

“We do now.”

A second investigator handed her a document.

Victoria scanned it.

Her face changed.

The warrant was based on evidence.

Too much evidence.

She looked at Elena.

“You.”

Elena said nothing.

Victoria moved toward her.

“You think you've won?”

Elena answered quietly.

“No.”

Victoria frowned.

“I think you have lost.”

That was when the first shot was fired.

CRACK.

The ballroom ceiling exploded in dust.

People screamed.

Guards shouted.

Julian grabbed Elena and pulled her behind a marble column.

Victoria dropped to the floor.

Another shot struck the wall.

The room descended into chaos.

Someone screamed that the attacker was on the roof.

Security rushed toward the balcony.

The orchestra scattered.

Elena covered her stomach.

Julian crouched beside her.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“You're bleeding.”

Elena looked down.

There was blood on her sleeve.

Her eyes widened.

“It isn't mine.”

A bodyguard staggered into view.

His chest was covered in blood.

Julian stared.

“What is happening?”

Elena's face changed.

She recognized the pattern.

This wasn't an attempt to kill Victoria.

It was an attempt to recover something.

Something else.

“Julian,” Elena whispered.

“What?”

“Where's your mother?”

He turned.

Victoria was gone.

The balcony doors were open.

A trail of blood led toward the garden.

Julian immediately ran.

Elena followed.

They found Victoria beside the fountain.

She was standing.

Alive.

But a masked man had a gun pointed at her head.

“You're coming with us,” the man said.

Victoria looked furious.

“You have no idea who you're dealing with.”

The masked man laughed.

“Oh, I know exactly who you are.”

He grabbed Victoria.

Elena stepped forward.

“Let her go.”

The man looked at her.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then his expression changed.

Recognition.

“You.”

Elena's face went pale.

“You're not supposed to be here.”

The gunman lowered his weapon slightly.

“Neither are you.”

Julian moved in front of Elena.

“Who are you?”

The man smiled.

“Ask your fiancée.”

Elena's hand tightened around Julian's arm.

The gunman leaned closer to Victoria.

“Your daughter is alive.”

Victoria froze.

The world seemed to stop.

“What did you say?”

“Your daughter.”

Victoria's voice became a whisper.

“She died.”

The gunman smiled.

“You were told she died.”

Then a second vehicle screeched around the corner.

The gunman released Victoria and ran.

Security chased him.

Julian turned toward Elena.

“What daughter?”

Victoria stared at Elena.

And for the first time that night, genuine terror appeared in her eyes.

“Julian,” Victoria whispered.

“That woman knows.”

Elena said nothing.

Victoria pointed at her.

“She knows where my daughter is.”

Julian looked at Elena.

“Elena?”

Elena closed her eyes.

She knew the time had come.

There was no more hiding.

She opened them.

“My name isn't Elena.”

Julian's face went blank.

“What?”

She touched her stomach.

“My real name is Elena Vale.”

Victoria stopped breathing.

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