Chapter 180
As Carolina’s forces closed in on the tunnel, the air inside crackled with anticipation. Lily and Maxwell, aware that they couldn’t face Carolina's men head-on in the tight quarters, grabbed the bag Raven had dropped and moved quickly down a side passage that would lead back to the estate. They had to regroup, find out what secrets the bag held, and decide their next move.
Carolina, furious at having lost Ariana again, stalked through the tunnels as her men spread out to secure the area. Her eyes were cold as she surveyed the aftermath of the explosion that had nearly trapped her outside. She knew Ariana was still out there, plotting—just as she knew Lily and Maxwell were now closer than ever to uncovering secrets she had fought to keep hidden.
But as Carolina’s men combed through the area, a small device hidden in the tunnel wall began to beep softly. It was a motion-activated signal jammer, placed by Raven before their intrusion, designed to disrupt radio signals. Carolina’s team’s communications went dark, leaving them in confusion. Raven might have been left behind, but he had not left without one final trick up his sleeve.
"Ma'am, we're losing contact with the outside team!" one of her men shouted, his voice barely audible over the static. Carolina’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, realizing Ariana had planned this move to sabotage her efforts. She clenched her fists, knowing that her daughter’s cunning could yet turn the tide of this dangerous game.
***
Back at the estate, Caleb was deep in thought, staring out the window of his study as rain began to pour outside. He knew time was running out. Ariana had escaped, Carolina was closing in, and the contents of the bag now in Maxwell and Lily’s possession could unravel everything he’d kept buried. The decades-old secret involving the family’s dealings was on the brink of exposure, and he feared what would happen if Alexander learned the full truth.
When Lily and Maxwell burst into the room, drenched and exhausted, Caleb turned to face them, his expression grave. Lily tossed the bag onto the desk, scattering documents and a small metal box with a rusted lock.
“We found this in the tunnels. It’s got to have something to do with the vault,” Maxwell said, catching his breath.
Caleb’s eyes darkened as he saw the old box. “You have no idea what you’ve uncovered,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He hesitated, then reached for the key around his neck—a key he’d kept hidden for years. With a shaking hand, he unlocked the box, revealing a stack of faded letters and an old photograph of a younger Caleb standing alongside a mysterious man with a scar across his face.
Alexander stepped forward, his face pale as he picked up the photograph. “Who is this? And what does it have to do with our family?”
Caleb closed his eyes, the weight of years pressing down on him. “His name was Silas... and he was the one who brokered the pact with our family, a deal that kept our enemies at bay. He’s dead now, but his allies still hold power—and if they learn that this evidence has surfaced, they will come for all of us.”
Lily glanced at the letters, recognizing some of the names of powerful figures in the city—people they had crossed paths with, some of whom had helped Carolina. “These letters... they’re blackmail material. Is that why you kept this hidden, Grandpa?”
“Yes,” Caleb admitted. “Silas was ruthless, but he kept other dangerous figures in line. When he died, I hid this evidence, hoping it would never resurface. But it seems that fate has other plans.”
Alexander’s jaw clenched as he took in the implications. “We need to destroy this, then. If Carolina or Ariana get their hands on it, they could use it to control half the city.”
Lily, however, shook her head. “No, Alexander. We need to use this as leverage. If we destroy it, we lose our last chance to turn the tables. We could bring down Carolina’s allies, expose the truth, and finally put an end to this feud.”
Maxwell nodded in agreement. “She’s right. We have a chance to change the game. But it won’t be easy—Carolina won’t back down, and Ariana is still out there.”
Alexander turned to Caleb, seeking guidance. “What do you think?”
Caleb’s gaze lingered on the photograph, a haunted look in his eyes. “This is a dangerous path, but perhaps it’s the only way to end this once and for all. If we’re going to do this, we’ll need to move quickly. Carolina will realize soon enough that her signals are being jammed. And Ariana... she’s always one step ahead.”
***
Meanwhile, deep in the city, Ariana paced back and forth in a rundown hideout, her face illuminated by the flickering light of a single lamp. She had narrowly escaped through the tunnel network, but she knew her time was running out. Raven had been captured, her plans were falling apart, and now Carolina’s pursuit was relentless. Yet as she glanced at a map of the estate and surrounding tunnels, a dark determination settled over her.
“They think they’ve won, but they have no idea what’s coming next,” she muttered to herself, her mind spinning with the possibilities. She reached for a burner phone and made a call to one of her last remaining contacts—someone with ties to the remnants of Silas’s old network.
“It’s me. I need your help,” Ariana said, keeping her voice low. “The evidence is out in the open, and if it reaches the wrong hands, we’re all finished.”
The voice on the other end was gruff, but there was a hint of intrigue. “I thought you’d never ask, Ariana. But this won’t come cheap.”
“Just be ready,” she replied, her tone icy. “I’ll make sure you’re compensated—after we get that evidence back.”
As she ended the call, Ariana’s lips curled into a grim smile. She wasn’t finished yet—not by a long shot. And while Lily and Alexander thought they held the upper hand, she intended to prove that the game was far from over.
Back at the estate, as the rain hammered against the windows, Lily, Alexander, and Caleb prepared for the storm that was coming. With the secrets of the past out in the open, alliances would be tested, and the battle for control was about to enter its most dangerous phase yet.
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