Chapter 13 - The Gilded Trap
By 1:00 PM, I wasn't just walking into the Crown Casino; I was crashing the elite, invitation-only charity gala hosted on its penthouse floor by Chloe’s father, billionaire industrialist Arthur Vance.
Dressed in a backless crimson silk floor-length dress—concealing two micro-blades in the hem and an earpiece synchronized to Marcus’s signal—I walked through the gilded double doors. Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead while high-society elites drank champagne, completely ignorant of the criminal blood money funding their lavish lifestyles.
Across the room, Chloe stood in a dazzling diamond dress, laughing as she sipped her glass. Beside her stood my ex-husband, Richard, looking sharp but hollowed out, his eyes anxious.
And in the corner, surrounded by armed guards, sat Victor.
My earpiece crackled. "Elena, do you read me?" It was Sarah’s voice, weak but alive. "Marcus and I are tied up in the sub-basement vault beneath the casino floor. The timer on the bomb is set for 2:00 PM!"
"Hold on, Sarah. I’m in," I whispered, taking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.
I moved through the crowd, deliberately crossing paths with Chloe. As she turned, her eyes widened in absolute shock, her face draining of color.
"You?" Chloe stammered, stepping back, her wine glass trembling. "How... how are you here? You were picking up trash on the side of the road!"
"Surprises happen when you underestimate people, Chloe," I said smoothly, stepping close enough so only she could hear. "I know about the offshore accounts. I know your father’s empire is built on Victor’s drug money."
Richard stepped between us, his voice shaking. "Elena... please, just leave. You don't know what these people are capable of!"
"I know exactly what they're capable of, Richard," I replied, staring directly into his cowardly eyes. "Because you let them do it to me and Noah."
Victor approached, a sickening grin on his face. "Enough reunion drama. Hand over the hard drive, Elena, or my men press the detonator downstairs right now."
I smiled, pulling a sleek silver USB drive from my clutch. "You mean this? Let's see if your security system likes what's on it."
May you like
I slammed the drive into the main AV console behind me. Instantly, the massive LED screens across the ballroom flashed to life, projecting bank records, illegal wire transfers, and video recordings of Victor and Arthur Vance orchestrating the entire conspiracy.
Panicked gasps exploded throughout the ballroom.
