Vivienne's fingers hovered over the keyboard as she composed her statement for the press. The words were sharp, purposeful—meant to break through the fog of the Rothsford family's manufactured innocence. Every sentence she typed was a deliberate move in a high-stakes game, and she wasn't about to let them win.
"My name is Vivienne Althea Rothsford. For twenty-seven years, I have been a pawn in a game I did not choose to play. I am not the heir to Rothsford Holdings. I was never meant to inherit their empire. What I am is a product of corruption—a lie that has persisted for too long. I ask that you look beyond the surface, beyond the facades they have so carefully crafted, and see the truth…"
She paused. The weight of the words settled over her like a shroud. For years, she had sought revenge for the betrayal that tore her family apart, but this—exposing the truth about the Rothsford legacy—felt like the true beginning of her war.
Behind her, Rhys was poring over security footage from the night of her escape. Mira sat at the desk, reading through the files they had gathered on Holloway, Ivy, and Jared. Everything was falling into place. The missing pieces were starting to connect, and soon enough, the Rothsfords would have nowhere to hide.
Vivienne's phone buzzed on the desk.
It was a message from an anonymous number.
"You think you can take everything from them? You think your father doesn't have something on you, Vivienne?"
She stared at the screen, her breath catching in her throat. The words sent a chill down her spine.
"You'll never win. You're not even one of them."
Vivienne's hands clenched into fists. She was already playing their game, and they were starting to retaliate. It was a warning, but it wasn't enough to stop her.
Rhys turned to her, his brow furrowing. "What's wrong?"
"I just received a message," Vivienne said, holding the phone up. "Someone thinks they can use my past against me. Someone with information."
Mira walked over, her gaze scanning the text. "It's Holloway. He's trying to play you."
Vivienne's jaw tightened. "Then I'll play him right back."
London, Rothsford Towers – 12:00 p.m.
The tension inside the Rothsford Towers office building was palpable. Gregory Holloway paced in his expansive corner office, his mind spinning with strategies to deal with Vivienne's threats. He had known from the moment she disappeared that it was only a matter of time before she came after them—but this?
This was more than he had expected.
"Ivy," he called to his secretary, "get me Jared. Now."
Ivy stepped into the room, her face a mask of controlled fury. "She's going public. You know that, don't you?"
Holloway's lips curled into a sneer. "We've handled worse."
"We've handled worse?" Ivy's voice was icy. "This isn't about handling it. Vivienne knows about Zurich. She knows everything. She has the leverage we didn't even know existed."
"You're being paranoid," Holloway said, dismissing her concern. "She's just a girl with a vendetta. I'll shut her down before she gets too far."
Ivy's eyes flashed with a dangerous glint. "You can't shut down the truth."
Zurich – The Same Time
Vivienne arrived at the hotel bar with Mira, the cold rain of Zurich clinging to their coats. Rhys had already set up the encrypted communication lines they would use to leak the rest of the Rothsford secrets. But Vivienne wasn't ready to act just yet.
"What are we waiting for?" Mira asked, her voice tinged with impatience.
"We're waiting for the Rothsford panic," Vivienne replied with a smirk. "Once they know the leak is public, they'll start scrambling. They'll expose themselves without even realizing it."
Mira raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to go straight for the kill?"
Vivienne shook her head. "Not yet. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. I want them to panic first. That's when they make mistakes."
Rothsford Towers – 3:00 p.m.
Jared Sutherland sat in a plush conference room, his hands clasped together as he listened to Ivy. "Vivienne just revealed herself to the world. She's making her move," Ivy said, pacing in front of him. "She's coming for us, and if we don't act now…"
"I know," Jared cut in. "I'll take care of it. You just make sure Vivienne gets the message. Tell her that if she thinks she can tear everything down, she's wrong."
Ivy nodded, but her face was filled with uncertainty. "She's not backing down, Jared. You know that."
"I'm not backing down either."
Vivienne's Hotel Suite – Later That Evening
Vivienne stood in front of a large window, watching the bustling streets of Zurich below. The city was a hive of activity, but inside her, everything was eerily still.
She had already sent out the leaks. The first wave of documents had hit the media with explosive force. Holloway's offshore accounts. Ivy's fraudulent transactions. Jared's involvement in the embezzlement. The Rothsford name was now tied to every major financial scandal of the past decade.
And yet, Vivienne wasn't satisfied. She needed more.
Her phone buzzed again.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Vivienne."
The message was from an unfamiliar number. Her heartbeat quickened. She recognized the writing style instantly—it was from Jared.
"Your birth certificate is the least of your worries. You don't know the whole story. Not yet."
Vivienne's mind raced. There was something bigger at play, something Jared wasn't telling her. Her birth parents, her true identity—this was no longer just about vengeance. It was about a hidden truth, one that no one was prepared for.
She slammed the phone down, her pulse pounding in her ears.
"I need to get to Jared," she said suddenly, her eyes locking with Rhys. "There's more he's hiding. I can feel it."
Rhys raised an eyebrow. "You think he'll talk?"
"I don't need him to talk. I just need to make him think he's cornered."
The Next Morning – Sutherland Estate
Vivienne arrived at the Sutherland estate, her face carefully composed as she stepped out of the black sedan. Jared was already waiting for her at the grand entrance, his expression unreadable.
"Vivienne," he greeted her with a tight smile. "I see you've made quite the impression."
"Don't flatter yourself," Vivienne said, her voice cold. "You and I both know you're hiding something. What do you know about my birth parents?"
Jared's eyes flickered for a fraction of a second. "That's not a question you want answered, Vivienne."
Vivienne stepped closer, her presence imposing. "Then you're about to regret not answering."
He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine. Let's talk."