Chapter 112
Chapter 112:
“But I studied every aspect of the business. And at night, I taught myself programming, finance, business strategy.”
Camille tried to picture Alexander, now one of the world’s wealthiest men, living in that ordinary building, working on a loading dock.
“And then came the second accident,” Alexander continued, his expression changing. “The one where our paths first crossed.”
He reached into his pocket and removed something small and silver. When he opened his palm, Camille saw the delicate rose pendant on a thin chain—the one she had given him years ago, the one he had returned to her the night he first mentioned their connection.
“You kept it all this time?” she asked, though she already knew the answer.
“It was my talisman,” Alexander said quietly. “When things got hard… and they did, many times, I’d hold it and remember that someone had once seen value in me when I couldn’t see it in myself.”
He started the car again, driving a few blocks to a sleek office building with “Pierce Technologies” emblazoned on the side.
“I built my first company here. Developed shipping logistics software that revolutionized the industry. By twenty-three, I was a billionaire. By twenty-six, a trillionaire.” His voice remained matter-of-fact, without boasting. “And when I crossed into trillionaire territory three years ago, guess who suddenly wanted to reconnect?”
“Your family,” Camille said.
“My parents, yes. Thomas had died by then, ironically in another car accident, this time with no one to blame but himself.” A shadow crossed Alexander’s face. “They reached out through lawyers first. Then directly. Wanted to ‘heal the family rift,’ they said.”
“What did you do?” Camille asked.
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“I cut them off completely. Told them in no uncertain terms that they had no son, just as I had no parents.” His voice was steady, but Camille could hear the old pain beneath the words. “Family isn’t just blood, Camille. It’s how people treat you when you have nothing to offer them.”
The words resonated deeply with her, thinking of how easily her parents had sided with Rose, how quickly Stefan had betrayed her.
“I’ve wanted to tell you all this for so long,” Alexander said, turning to face her fully. “From the moment I recognized you at that charity gala, I’ve wanted to explain everything. But I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?” Camille asked softly.
“That you’d think I was using our past connection to manipulate you. To get close to you.” His eyes held hers, vulnerability visible for perhaps the first time since she’d known him. “I wanted to earn your trust on my own merits, not because of something that happened years ago.”
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