Chapter 6 - The Woman Inside the TrapEleanor had not been kidnapped.
She had gone willingly.
Because she had the final piece.
The key.
It opened a vault.
The vault contained evidence against Richard Caldwell.
But there was another problem.
Richard was dead.
Mason had inherited everything.
Including the network.
Dominic understood immediately.
“Mason is not working alone.”
Selena frowned.
“Who else?”
Dominic showed her the photograph.
A man beside Mason.
She recognized him.
“Your chief financial officer?”
“Yes.”
“He works for you.”
“He did.”
Selena's stomach dropped.
The conspiracy had reached inside Dominic's own company.
Mason had been planning for months.
The gala.
The financial manipulation.
The forged trust.
The kidnapping attempt.
The marriage.
Everything.
Selena looked at her ring.
“He wanted me married to you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To trigger the second clause of the trust.”
“What clause?”
Dominic's expression was grim.
“If the heir marries a Vale, the hidden estate becomes accessible.”
Selena stared.
“Hidden estate?”
“Your father didn't leave you twenty-eight million.”
“Then what?”
“Forty-three million.”
She laughed weakly.
“This is insane.”
“There is more.”
“What?”
“The estate doesn't belong to you alone.”
She looked at him.
“It belongs to both families.”
The vault opened that night.
Inside were ledgers.
Names.
Bank accounts.
Photographs.
And a recording.
Selena's father's voice.
“If you're hearing this, then the Caldwells discovered the trust.”
The recording continued.
“I created it because I knew my enemies would target my daughter.”
Then another voice.
Dominic's father.
“Protect her.”
Selena stared at Dominic.
Their fathers had planned everything.
The marriage clause had never been about money.
It had been about protection.
Two families.
One alliance.
One final attempt to stop the Caldwells.
Then the recording changed.
A third voice appeared.
Richard Caldwell.
He admitted everything.
He admitted murdering Selena's father.
He admitted controlling Mason.
But then came the final revelation.
“Mason is not my son.”
Selena froze.
Dominic looked at her.
Richard continued.
“Mason is the son of the man who destroyed both families.”
The recording named him.
Edward Vale.
Dominic's uncle.
A man believed dead.
Dominic went pale.
“My uncle.”
Selena whispered,
“He's alive.”
“Yes.”
And Edward had been controlling everything.
Including Mason.
Including the financial network.
Including the men who attacked Selena.
The final words of the recording were chilling.
“You will never be safe while Edward lives.”
The lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Dominic grabbed Selena.
Aaron shouted.
Men stormed the vault.
Dominic fought back.
Selena ran toward the emergency exit.
A man grabbed her.
She screamed.
Dominic turned.
The bullet meant for her hit him.
He staggered.
“Dominic!”
He dropped.
Selena caught him.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Stay with me.”
His eyes opened.
“I'm fine.”
“You're bleeding.”
“I've had worse.”
“Don't you dare joke.”
He smiled weakly.
“You're crying.”
“Because you're an idiot.”
He touched her cheek.
“Still beautiful.”
She kissed his forehead.
May you like
“Stay alive.”
“I have a reason now.”
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