Chapter 10 - THE BRIDE WHO WAS NEVER IN LOVE
Camille Ashford arrived at Elias's office the following morning.
She looked furious.
“What's going on?”
Elias looked up.
“Sit down.”
She folded her arms.
“No.”
Elias studied her.
Then placed the Hion Ridge records on the desk.
Camille's face changed.
He asked:
“How long have you been working with Malcolm Voss?”
She swallowed.
“Elias—”
“How long?”
Silence.
Finally, she whispered:
“Before I met you.”
Elias felt something inside him settle.
Not heartbreak.
Recognition.
He nodded.
“And Vincent?”
Camille looked away.
Elias leaned back.
“Was the engagement part of the plan?”
Her eyes filled.
For a moment, she looked like the woman he'd loved.
Then she said:
“At first.”
Elias stared.
Camille began crying.
“Malcolm introduced us. He said you needed someone respectable beside you.”
Elias swallowed.
“And you needed access.”
She nodded.
He looked toward the window.
Camille continued.
“I didn't know about the fishermen.”
Elias looked back.
“Did you know about the money?”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
He nodded.
Then she whispered:
“I did care about you.”
Elias stared.
“Maybe.”
She began crying harder.
He took off his engagement ring.
Placed it on the desk.
“The wedding is canceled.”
Camille closed her eyes.
Elias continued.
“You'll have an opportunity to explain your role to the investigators.”
She looked up.
“Elias, please.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
May you like
For the first time in his life, he wasn't interested in winning an argument.
He was interested in ending a lie.
