Chapter 9 - THE BRIDE WHO FOUGHT BACK
Vivien had spent years learning from her mother.
Emergency medicine.
Observation.
Calm thinking under pressure.
She knew how to recognize panic.
And how to avoid letting it control her.
While Vincent spoke, she studied the room.
One door.
Two guards outside.
A camera near the ceiling.
And a loose metal bracket beneath the chair.
She worked slowly.
Quietly.
Until the binding around one wrist loosened.
Vincent continued talking.
He wanted Edmund to surrender documents connected to his father's old businesses.
He believed Vivien was the leverage he needed.
But Vivien had no intention of becoming anyone's bargaining chip.
When Vincent stepped away to answer his phone, she moved.
She freed one hand.
Then the other.
She grabbed the journal.
And ran.
A guard shouted.
Vivien pushed through the door.
The corridor was narrow.
She reached a stairwell.
Then heard footsteps behind her.
She ran faster.
At the bottom of the stairs, she found an emergency exit.
She pushed it open.
Cold night air struck her face.
And suddenly, headlights flooded the alley.
A black SUV stopped.
The door opened.
Edmund stepped out.
For one heartbeat, neither moved.
Then Vivien ran toward him.
“Edmund!”
He caught her.
Held her.
And for the first time in his life, the feared mafia boss looked genuinely terrified.
“I thought I'd lost you.”
Vivien buried her face against his chest.
“You didn't.”
He pulled back.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
Then held up the journal.
“I found something.”
Edmund stared at it.
Vivien swallowed.
“Your father was involved.”
May you like
His expression changed.
And the truth began to unravel.
