Elise’s Office, 3:15 AM
I was pacing behind my desk like a caged animal when my phone rang. Marcus’s name on the screen made my heart stop—he never called this late unless it was an emergency.
“What is it?” I answered before the second ring.
“Ms. Monroe, I just got a call from Ava.”
The world tilted. “What? How did she—”
“She’s okay, but there’s something you need to know. Bianca isn’t just holding her for ransom. She’s planning to kill both you and Mr. Monroe.”
Damon looked up from where he’d been slumped on my couch, his face going pale.
“Put it on speaker,” he said urgently.
I hit the button. “Marcus, tell us everything.”
“Ava found building plans for Monroe Technologies. Bianca has marked structural support points and… and she has explosives. The plan is to get both of you into the building tomorrow and bring it down. With all of you inside.”
“Jesus Christ,” Damon whispered.
“There’s more,” Marcus continued, his voice tight with worry. “This isn’t just about jealousy or revenge. It’s about an inheritance. Ava overheard Bianca talking about your father’s will—the real one that left everything to you, including money that was supposed to go to Bianca.”
I sank into my chair, pieces of a puzzle I’d never known existed suddenly clicking into place. “My father cut her out of the will?”
“Apparently. And Bianca’s been planning this for three years. She’s the one who destroyed Mr. Monroe’s business, deliberately sabotaged his clients and investments.”
Damon’s face went ashen. “That’s impossible. Those were just bad luck, market fluctuations—”
“It was all her,” Marcus said quietly. “She’s been systematically destroying your life to get to Ms. Monroe.”
The room fell silent except for the sound of our ragged breathing.
“Marcus,” I said finally, “how did Ava sound? Was she hurt?”
“Scared but incredibly brave. She wanted me to tell you that she remembers you singing to her. That she remembers being called ‘little star.'” His voice softened. “She said to tell you she loves both of you, even if you don’t love each other anymore.”
My throat closed up completely. Damon buried his face in his hands.
“There’s one more thing,” Marcus added. “Right before she hung up, she said she thought she heard something. I’m worried Bianca might realize what she did.”
As if summoned by his words, my other phone rang. The same unknown number from before.
“She’s calling,” I told Marcus. “Stay on the line but mute yourself.”
I answered the second phone. “Bianca.”
“Well, well, sister. It seems our dear little Ava has been quite busy tonight.”
My blood turned to ice. “What are you talking about?”
