Chapter 164

Chapter 164:

Behind them, Victoria slept on, her breathing deep and regular, each rise and fall of her chest a silent victory. The machines beeped steadily, marking the rhythm of her survival.

Camille turned back to look at her, the woman who had become her mother in every way that mattered. For twenty-five months, Camille had followed Victoria’s lead, learning from her, becoming what Victoria shaped her to be. Now, for the first time, their roles would reverse. Camille would protect Victoria, guard her secret, and fight her battles while she healed.

The thought no longer terrified her. Instead, it filled her with a fierce determination that burned brighter than any desire for revenge ever had. “We should go,” she said softly. “There’s work to do.”

Alexander nodded, understanding in his eyes. As they moved toward the door, Camille paused for one last look at Victoria. In sleep, the formidable CEO of Kane Industries looked almost peaceful, the lines of command and control softened by vulnerable humanity.

“Rest,” Camille whispered. “Recover your strength. I’ll handle everything until you return.”

She closed the door quietly behind them, her mind already racing with plans and strategies. Victoria Kane had survived. Now it was Camille’s turn to ensure that everything Victoria valued survived as well—her company, her legacy, and most importantly, her vision for the future they would build together. Mother and daughter, not by blood, but by choice. By strength. By love.

The yacht cut through the water, leaving a trail of white foam in its wake. Camille stood at the railing, the wind whipping her hair across her face as the Manhattan skyline receded behind them. For the first time in weeks, the constant hum of tension in her shoulders began to ease.

Three days had passed since Victoria’s surgery. Three days of Camille splitting her time between the hospital and the office, maintaining the fiction that Victoria was simply recovering from exhaustion while privately overseeing her medical care. The doctors reported steady improvement, with Victoria Kane fighting her way back to health with the same determination she applied to everything else in her life.

“A penny for your thoughts?”

Camille turned to find Alexander approaching, two glasses of wine in hand. He had changed from his usual impeccable suit into jeans and a simple white linen shirt that billowed slightly in the breeze. The casual attire transformed him from corporate titan to something else entirely—just a man on a boat, enjoying the afternoon sun.

“I was wondering how you convinced me to leave my phone behind,” she said, accepting the glass he offered.

Alexander smiled. “I can be persuasive when necessary.”

“Four hours,” she reminded him. “That’s all I can spare.”

“Four hours of no calls, no emails, no crisis management,” he agreed. “Just you, me, and the Atlantic Ocean.”

.

.

.