Chapter 63

Vivi and Sophia's hushed conversation was interrupted by the click of heels on marble. Ava sauntered into the kitchen, her fitted dress hugging every curve.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything." She opened the fridge, bending over dramatically to reach for a bottle of water. "Just getting hydrated before the luncheon."

"Not at all," Sophia replied, her tone neutral as she sipped her coffee. "I was just heading out to make some calls."

Ava's eyes followed Sophia's retreat before landing on Vivi. "You know, I've been meaning to ask - how did you and Reginald meet? Damien never told me the full story."

Vivi's fingers tightened around her coffee mug. "It was an arranged marriage. Our families arranged everything."

"Really?" Ava's perfectly shaped eyebrows arched. "So you never even met him before the wedding? That must have been... interesting."

"My family needed the connection." Vivi kept her voice steady, remembering her resolve to protect them. "The details weren't important."

"Hmm." Ava took a slow sip of water, studying Vivi over the bottle's rim. "And here I thought arranged marriages were a thing of the past. Though I suppose when there's enough money involved..." She trailed off with a knowing smirk.

"You seem very interested in my marriage, Ava." Vivi met her gaze directly.

"Just trying to understand the family dynamic." Ava's red lips curved. "After all, I'm practically part of it now, with Damien and me being so... close."

The kitchen fell silent except for the soft tick of the wall clock. Vivi maintained her composure, though her heart hammered against her ribs. She wouldn't give Ava the satisfaction of seeing her rattled.

"Well, if you'll excuse me." Ava pushed away from the counter. "I should find Damien. He gets so restless when I'm away too long."

As Ava's heels clicked away down the hall, Sophia slipped back into the kitchen, her face tight with concern.

"Did you see that?" Sophia kept her voice low. "The way she brought up the arranged marriage - she's fishing for information."

Vivi's hands trembled as she set down her coffee mug. "She's not even trying to hide it anymore. The way she mentioned being 'part of the family' - she's getting bolder."

"Because she thinks she has Damien wrapped around her finger." Sophia perched on a bar stool, drumming her fingers on the marble counter. "Those bank transactions I found... they're just the tip of the iceberg. She's playing a longer game than we thought."

Vivi paced the study, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. "The way she brought up the marriage arrangement - she's definitely digging for information."

"Romano's fingerprints are all over this." Sophia pulled up documents on her laptop. "The timing of Ava's appearance, her sudden interest in Damien, the mysterious transfers - it's too perfect to be coincidence."

"But why now?" Vivi stopped by the window, watching shadows stretch across the manicured lawn.

"From what I've pieced together, Romano's been rebuilding his empire in secret. The Blackwood name still carries weight - taking it down would cement his comeback." Sophia's fingers flew across the keyboard. "And what better way than through Damien?"

"Using Ava to seduce him, gain inside access..." Vivi's voice trailed off.

"Exactly. She reports everything back to Romano. The family's vulnerabilities, potential pressure points-" Sophia looked up. "Including your arranged marriage."

Vivi's stomach clenched. "That's why she kept pushing about the details."

"Romano knows the marriage was rushed. He's probably hoping there are legal loopholes he can exploit." Sophia closed her laptop. "Between that and whatever dirt Ava can dig up on Damien..."

"They could destroy the family's reputation. Tank the company's stock." Vivi sank into a leather chair. "Everything Reginald built would crumble."

"And Romano would be there to pick up the pieces." Sophia's expression hardened. "We can't let that happen."

"But how do we stop it? Damien won't believe anything negative about Ava right now."

"That's why we need concrete proof." Sophia drummed her fingers on the desk. "And we need to get it before she sinks her claws in any deeper."

…

In a dimly lit office across town, Victor Romano sat behind his mahogany desk, examining photographs spread before him. Each one captured moments from the Blackwood estate - Reginald at social functions, Damien with Ava, and the newest addition to the family, Vivian.

His fingers traced the edge of a particular photo showing Reginald and Vivi at their wedding. "You always did have a weakness for beautiful women, Reggie," he murmured, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Romano picked up his phone, dialing a familiar number. "How's our little project progressing?"

"Everything's going according to plan," Ava's voice purred through the speaker. "Damien's completely distracted. And the new Mrs. Blackwood? She's starting to crack under the pressure."

"Good." Romano leaned back in his leather chair. "But remember - this isn't just about the money. I want Reginald to feel what it's like to lose everything." His jaw clenched as memories of his own downfall flooded back - the empire he'd built, the reputation he'd cultivated, all stripped away by Reginald's machinations.

"Twenty years," he muttered after ending the call. "Twenty years of watching from the shadows, rebuilding piece by piece." He stood, walking to the window overlooking the city lights. The Blackwood Tower stood prominently in the distance, its illuminated logo a constant reminder of what had been taken from him.

Romano's reflection stared back at him in the glass - older now, but the fire of revenge burned just as hot as it had two decades ago. He'd lost everything because of Reginald's betrayal - his company, his social standing, even his family. Now it was time for Reginald to experience the same fate.

He returned to his desk, opening a drawer to pull out an old newspaper clipping. The headline announced the merger that had marked the beginning of his downfall. Below it, a photo showed a younger Reginald Blackwood shaking hands with Romano, both men smiling for the cameras. That had been the last time anyone had seen them together in public.