n. Fire trucks wailed. Water hoses fought against the blaze. But it

whispered, standing besid

he wouldn't cry. Not here. Not wher

ld," she sai

is phone. "I want security footage from ev

en eyes reflecting the flames. "My car i

d. "I can take

id this knows all about Elena's conn

s?" Victoria

is eyes. "My penthouse has be

gue. "I just need to thin

ien raised

Golden Crumb. Thi

ross Lucien's face. "R

watching the city blur past. Lucien studie

ing this we

ed. "But I learned from Nathan that

"Smart. But exp

ed her through a private entrance where security guards nodded re

laughed. "P

corrected. "Success

dows showcased the glittering city. Sleek furniture, modern art,

sked, shrugging of

. Then her stomach g

led. "Sit.

u c

n of many

ta with a simple sauce that smelled divine. Elena watched, puzzled by this stran

ssional kitchen when you

p from the stove. "W

htened. "Do you h

a plate before her. "No. But I like to b

I an opportun

d. The air crack

softly. "You'r

r, Lucien led her to a wall of screens in his home office. Security c

n," he said. "It'll show whoever attacke

ecipes... my special note

drive. "I had everything backed up. Every re

ver gave y

erious. "I protect my

d. "You knew this would happ

ir. "I should tell you about Tokyo. About

t raced. "I'

d me. Then I discovered why-her family isn't just into law and charity. Th

Elena

orward. "When I saw you on social media, I recognized N

? Your revenge tool

I met you. Tasted your cookies. Saw how you fought back." He

ity up her arm. She pul

. "And you helped me. We can

want revenge. I want my bakery. My

scent-expensive cologne and someth

when I was a child. My father worked for their company. He found out what they were

sped. "L

nce to break them." His eyes burned with pain. "Then you appeare

too hot. Elena backed awa

hink. This i

e guest room is down the hall

ds, Elena stared at the ceiling. Her p

him. His story about investin

y, another text arrived

irl in the photo. The o

oom, drawn to Lucien's office. The door stood s

ootage of her, sleeping

sk. A folder lay open. Heart

years. Baking in her old apartment with Nathan. S

hing her long before

A young woman who looked remarkably like Elena, but with lo

k: "Claire and Luc

s my fi

Lucien stood in the

pying on me,"

tepping closer. "After what happe

to her?" Elena'

ers happened. Margaret had her killed bec

away. "That m

e dark. "Tomorrow, you'll understand e

me for years? That I look like your dead fianc

peed, his hands gripping her

. The moment Nathan married you, you were al

ena could feel his breath, see th

t?" she w

re." His voice broke slight

The anger melted into something more danger

ttering the moment. He c

ng it to show surveillance footage of N

what?" E

sed a button. Alarms blared througho

at's hap

, pulling her toward a

they're coming to finish

gerous now. Lucien's secret passage

s phone buzzed with

remember-he killed Cla