Chapter 51

Third-Person POV

Victoria Kane’s hotel suite in Chicago offered a panoramic view of Lake Michigan, a vista most would stop to admire. She noticed none of it. Instead, her attention remained fixed on the tablet in her hand, fingers swiping through news article after news article, each headline worse than the last.

“BILLIONAIRE BACHELOR ALEXANDER PIERCE GIFTS $100M NECKLACE TO MYSTERIOUS KANE HEIRESS”

“POWER COUPLE ALERT: PIERCE AND KANE SEND SOCIAL MEDIA INTO FRENZY”

“FROM RECLUSE TO ROMANCE: HAS THE COLD-HEARTED TECH GENIUS FINALLY MET HIS MATCH?”

Each article featured the same photographs, Alexander placing the diamond necklace around Camille’s throat, his hands lingering at her neck. Camille’s genuine smile as she looked up at him, a softness in her expression Victoria had never seen before. The two of them standing together as if the crowded fundraiser had faded away, leaving them in a world of their own.

Victoria’s manicured nail cracke