Alexander stood, shaking with rage. “I’ll shut this down publicly.”

“With what?” she asked coldly. “With guilt? With tears? She’ll tell the media you’re an unstable, grieving father being manipulated by a con artist. Your late grief won’t protect me, Dad.

It’ll bury me.”

The word Dad didn’t sound like forgiveness. It sounded like an open wound. And Alexander accepted it as a deserved blow.

Chapter 6 — The Doors at the Back of the Room

Beatrice called an emergency press conference that same morning at a Midtown hotel, claiming it was to protect Valerie’s memory and the stability of the Sterling Group’s stock.

In truth, she wanted to destroy Maya Ross before Valerie could reclaim her life. She arrived in pristine white, eyes glistening with rehearsed tears, voice flawless.