Chapter 4 - Victor Signed Away His Future Without Knowing Who Was WatchingThe first major blow came six weeks later.
Hastings Holdings announced a new development partnership.
The partner?
Grant Development.
Victor was ecstatic.
“It could change everything for us,” he told Sophia.
Sophia looked at the contract.
She already knew.
The deal wasn't an opportunity.
It was a trap.
The agreement gave Grant Development access to a Hastings shipping division.
If Grant defaulted, Hastings would be exposed.
Sophia asked:
“Who drafted this?”
Victor smiled.
“Our lawyers.”
“Which lawyers?”
He named them.
Sophia recognized the firm.
It had recently represented Marcus Vale.
She said nothing.
At the board meeting, Sophia objected.
Several executives supported her.
Victor accused her of sabotaging his company.
“You're trying to control me.”
Sophia stared.
“I'm trying to protect our assets.”
“Our assets?”
“Yes.”
“You've suddenly become very interested in my business.”
“No.”
Sophia looked around the room.
“I'm interested in what's being done with my family's business.”
That silenced everyone.
Victor later cornered her in the parking garage.
“What is wrong with you?”
“Nothing.”
“You embarrassed me.”
“Good.”
He stared.
“What did you say?”
“I said good.”
Sophia stepped closer.
“You should get used to being embarrassed.”
Victor grabbed her arm.
“You're my wife.”
“And?”
“You don't speak to me like that.”
Sophia removed his hand.
“You don't own me.”
For a moment, anger flashed in his eyes.
Then something else.
Fear.
Sophia saw it.
“You know about the contract,” she said.
His face hardened.
“What?”
“You're afraid.”
“Of you?”
“No.”
She whispered:
“Of whoever gave you the contract.”
Victor walked away.
That night, Sophia received an anonymous message.
You are standing on the wrong side of history.
She replied:
Then tell me the right side.
The answer arrived instantly.
Leave Victor before he buries you with him.
Sophia stared at the phone.
Someone else knew.
She forwarded the message to Daniel.
He traced it.
An encrypted server.
Impossible to identify.
But the metadata contained a tiny clue.
A location.
Seattle.
Ferry terminal district.
Sophia felt the blood leave her face.
She knew that place.
In the future, she would die there.
Now someone was warning her.
The following week, Isabella began pushing Victor harder.
“You promised me.”
Sophia overheard them.
Victor whispered:
“I need time.”
“You don't have time.”
“Stop pressuring me.”
“You said Sophia wouldn't be a problem.”
“She isn't.”
“Then prove it.”
Sophia quietly left.
She went to the garage.
Inside her car was a file she had never seen before.
A copy of Victor's life insurance policy.
Beneficiary:
Isabella Reed.
Amount:
$25 million.
Sophia stared.
Her marriage was worth twenty-five million dollars.
Her life was worth twenty-five million.
And Isabella had been preparing for Victor's death.
She called Daniel.
“What happens if Victor dies?”
“Isabella gets the policy.”
“And if Victor's debt increases?”
“The policy may become the fastest way to recover losses.”
“Meaning?”
“Someone may want him dead.”
Sophia's voice went cold.
“Not someone.”
She looked at the policy.
“She does.”
Daniel was quiet.
“Prove it.”
“I will.”
That night, Sophia confronted Isabella.
“You have a beautiful dress.”
Isabella smiled.
“Thank you.”
“Did Victor buy it?”
“No.”
“Marcus Vale?”
Isabella's face changed.
Sophia stepped closer.
“You should be more careful with your friends.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Of course.”
Sophia walked away.
Isabella called after her.
“You think you're better than me.”
Sophia stopped.
“No.”
She turned.
“I think I'm finally paying attention.”
The next morning, Victor's company stock crashed.
A major investor withdrew.
Two banks demanded repayment.
Three projects were frozen.
Victor rushed home.
“Your family did this.”
Sophia looked up from breakfast.
“What?”
“You used Hastings influence to attack me.”
“No.”
“Don't lie.”
She placed her coffee down.
“I didn't touch your company.”
Victor stared.
“Then who did?”
Sophia smiled.
“You should ask your first love.”
His face went white.
“What does that mean?”
She stood.
“It means you're about to discover whether she loves you.”
Victor grabbed his coat.
He drove directly to Isabella.
Sophia followed from a distance.
She watched them argue.
Then Isabella slapped him.
Victor froze.
Isabella said something.
Victor stepped backward.
Then he left.
Sophia expected relief.
Instead she felt something worse.
Victor looked devastated.
Not because he had lost money.
Because his fantasy was collapsing.
Sophia went home.
That evening Victor stood outside the bedroom.
“I need to talk.”
She looked at him.
“About Isabella?”
“Yes.”
“What about her?”
“I think you were right.”
Sophia's heart hardened.
“You're finally listening?”
“I think she lied.”
Sophia stared.
“So what?”
Victor took a step closer.
“I owe you an apology.”
“You do.”
“I should have trusted you.”
“You should have.”
He reached for her hand.
She let him.
For one second, she remembered the man she had loved.
Then she remembered drowning.
She pulled away.
“It's too late.”
Victor looked shattered.
“Can we fix this?”
Sophia whispered:
“I don't know.”
But she did know one thing.
Forgiving him would not protect her.
The next day, she hired a legal team.
Not to divorce Victor.
To investigate every asset he owned.
Because the biggest secret had not yet been uncovered.
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And Sophia was about to discover that Victor's company wasn't merely being targeted.
It was being used to hide something far more dangerous.
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