Chapter 13
384words
"Miss, her Cambridge doctorate is completely fabricated," Lance reported. "During her time abroad, she spent Loki's money on designer clothes and social climbing. After failing to break into elite circles, she crawled back home."
I let out a cold laugh. So she'd only returned to Loki after exhausting all better options.
These two truly deserved each other.
"There's... something else," Lance hesitated, unusual uncertainty in his voice.
"Continue," I commanded.
"Alice," his voice softened, "I believe you should know this. You have the right to this information."
I raised an eyebrow. "Lance, do you honestly think anything could shake me now?"
"The day your son fell ill—the day he died—Loki was in the same city as Cynthia."
My body went rigid.
Lance continued quietly: "Cynthia had collapsed with a fever. The hospital called her emergency contact—Loki. He bought a last-minute flight and rushed to her side."
A high-pitched ringing filled my ears. I couldn't breathe.
So Loki had abandoned our infant son to rush to her bedside.
It hit me like a physical blow—his claims about "not hearing clearly" were deliberate lies. I'd given him explicit instructions about our baby's care!
No wonder he'd transformed into the perfect husband after our son's death, caring for me with such devotion. He wasn't showing love—he was assuaging his own crushing guilt!
I staggered backward. Lance caught my elbow, steadying me.
"Alice..." His voice was gentle with concern.
"Proceed," I said, ice crystallizing around my heart. "Destroy them both."
"Consider it done."
Cynthia's fraudulent credentials hit the news cycle like a bomb. The Dalton Group's stock plummeted as investors questioned the company's judgment. The board forced the Daltons to remove her from all official positions.
Cynthia, panicking, attempted to flee with millions in embezzled company funds. I'd anticipated this—an anonymous tip to the financial crimes unit ensured officers were waiting at the private airfield.
Cynthia was led away in handcuffs, her designer clothes exchanged for prison orange.
I publicly withdrew all Wells Group investments from Dalton enterprises. Like dominoes, other investors followed suit, triggering a mass exodus.
Within weeks, the Dalton Group filed for bankruptcy protection.
"Lance," I said, closing the newspaper covering the Dalton collapse, "I think it's time we paid a visit to our old friends."
