Alex stepped out of the villa into the cool morning air, his footsteps crunching softly against the gravel driveway.
The sun had barely crested the horizon, painting the Roland Estate in shades of pale gold and soft amber. The lake below shimmered, peaceful and untouched, as if the events of last night had left no mark on the world at all.
He walked toward his car with unhurried confidence, his mind already shifting to the next piece on the board.
Viktor's villa. The next phase.
But as he slid into the driver's seat and started the engine, his thoughts drifted back to last night.
It had been... fruitful.
More than he'd anticipated.
Vivienne had prepared meticulously. She'd laid out everything... documents, recordings, surveillance photos... with the precision of a woman who'd been planning this reveal for months.
