Chapter 50

Third-Person POV

The necklace caught light from overhead chandeliers, blue-white fire seeming to dance among the stones.

“I couldn’t possibly,” she began, the practiced response Victoria would expect.

“Of course you can,” he countered softly. “Consider it a loan for the evening. To benefit the children.”

His eyes held hers, challenging, teasing. Behind them, phone cameras discreetly captured the moment, society columnists watched avidly, witnesses to something unprecedented. Alexander Pierce offering a hundred-million-dollar necklace to Victoria Kane’s mysterious daughter.

Camille turned to face him, found his eyes glinting with something that might have been admiration, might have been challenge, might have been something deeper neither of them was prepared to name.

“The phoenix only rises through fire, Mr. Pierce,” she replied quietly. “And fire is a dangerous element to play with.”

His smile deepened, genuine amusement replacing ca