Back at Silas's penthouse, Elise sat before his sleek computer, the flash drive glinting under the dim desk lamp. Silas stood behind her, arms folded, his expression unreadable but tense.
"Ready?" he asked.
Elise slid the drive into the port without hesitation. The screen lit up instantly—folders, encrypted files, and one ominously labeled "E. Morgan". Her stomach clenched. That was her name.
"Open it," Silas urged, his voice low.
The file expanded into dozens of scanned documents: contracts, bank transfers, forged signatures—proof of her sale, transactions tied directly to her father and Victor. Elise's chest tightened. Seeing it in black and white was like being punched in the gut.
Silas placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Elise—"
"I'm fine," she lied, forcing her voice steady. "Keep going."
Clicking deeper, they uncovered more: bribes to officials, secret offshore accounts, and evidence of trafficking operations that tied not just to her father's empire but to half the city's elite.
Then came the bombshell.
A hidden video file. Elise clicked it.
The screen flickered to life, showing Victor—nervous, glancing over his shoulder—recording himself. "If you're seeing this, I'm dead," he began. "They're planning to eliminate Elise permanently. They don't just want her silenced—they want her erased."
Silas cursed under his breath, fists clenching. Elise stared at the screen, her blood running cold. This wasn't just a smear campaign anymore.
"They want you gone," Silas said darkly, his hand tightening protectively on her shoulder.
"Then let them come," Elise whispered, her eyes blazing. "Because now, I have everything I need to bury them first."
But before Silas could respond, Elise's phone buzzed on the desk. A message appeared from an unknown number.
"Nice file. Too bad it won't save you."
Elise stared at the words, her heart thundering. Whoever was pulling strings… knew exactly what they'd just uncovered.
Silas's jaw hardened. "We're not waiting anymore. It's time to hit back—hard."
Elise nodded slowly, her fear transforming into fire. This wasn't just revenge now. It was survival.
And she intended to win.