Chapter 186

Morning light poured through the windows of their Positano villa, painting golden stripes across rumpled sheets. Camille’s sleeping form barely stirred as Alexander slipped from bed. His bandaged hand throbbed with each heartbeat, twelve stitches pulling tight against swollen skin. A fitting reminder of the ugliness beneath his carefully maintained surface.

He moved silently across the tiled floor, retrieving his phone from the nightstand. Seven days into their honeymoon, the pattern had been established: rise before Camille, check messages, delete evidence, return to bed as the loving husband she deserved.

In the bathroom, door shut and water running to mask any sound, Alexander opened the encrypted messaging app. The contact listed simply as “Guardian” had left three new texts during the night.

Located additional documents from 2013. Kane Industries’ targeted takeover plan for Pierce Enterprises mentions Richard by name. Victoria Kane personally signed off on