Chapter 392:

“Eleanor,” Aurora said, the name tasting like ash in her mouth.

“We hit her with the bank records,” Elias said. “We expose Blue Lily. We strip her of her credibility before we strip her of her freedom.”

“I want to see her face,” Cecelia said suddenly. The sadness in her voice had crystallized into anger. “When she realizes she bought a soup recipe. I want to see her face.”

“You will,” Aurora said. “We’ll make sure of it.”

The SUV sped toward the private airfield, carrying Jennifer away from the wreckage of her career. She watched the New York skyline recede, tears streaming silently down her face.

In the penthouse, the mood shifted from tension to grim satisfaction.

Elias poured two glasses of brandy. He handed one to Aurora and took the other for himself.

“To soup,” he toasted.

Aurora clinked her glass against his. “To soup.”

They drank. The brandy burned pleasantly, chasing away the chill of the evening.

“Cloud is monitoring Smith’s communications,” Elias said. “He’s already bragging to his board members. He thinks he has the cure for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS all in one PDF.”

“Let him gloat,” Aurora said. “The higher he climbs, the harder the fall.”

She walked out onto the balcony. The city was a sea of diamonds on black velvet. The wind whipped her hair across her face.

Elias followed her. He stood close, his presence a warm, solid weight against the cold night.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I hate betrayal,” Aurora admitted. “Even when we handle it. It leaves a stain.”

“It’s the nature of the game,” Elias said. “Loyalty is rare. That’s why it’s expensive.”

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 ⍰ 𝙜ⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀・𝖼𝗈𝗆

“Is that why you’re here?” Aurora asked, turning to look at him. “Because I pay well?”

Elias looked at her. His dark eyes reflected the city lights, but beneath the surface, there was a fire that had nothing to do with money.

“You know that’s not why,” he said softly.

He reached into his coat pocket. “I have something for you. A trophy from the hunt.”

He pulled out a folded piece of paper. It was a printout of the bank transfer confirmation Cloud had intercepted.

Sender: Blue Lily Ventures.

Recipient: Dr. A. Smith.

Amount: $500,000.

“This is the official trace,” Elias said. “It links the payment for the ‘stolen’ file directly to Eleanor’s shell company. We have the digital footprint. It’s admissible in court.”

Aurora took the paper. It felt light, but it carried the weight of a guillotine blade.

“We have them,” she whispered. “We really have them.”

“We do,” Elias said.

He stepped closer, placing his hands on the railing on either side of her, boxing her in. He wasn’t touching her, yet he was everywhere.

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