He had not counted on the fragile woman getting to a real doctor, and a real lawyer, before the file was finished.

Chapter 13 — The Tactical Mistake

Christian tried to get ahead of it.

That night he released a video from his estate — no jacket, careful stubble, mournful lighting — gazing into the camera like a man carved from grief.

“I love Genevieve with all my heart,” he said, voice breaking on cue.

“But she is unwell.

She is being manipulated by people who want to use her pain, and I would never — never — dream of hurting her.” Cardenas watched it on her laptop and, when it ended, she smiled.

“There,” she said.