Chapter 448

Chapter 448:

As the morning wore on, Camille’s stress gradually gave way to determined focus. She threw herself into damage control with the same intensity she brought to everything, and Alexander found himself genuinely impressed by her resilience.

“The preliminary press release is ready,” Victoria announced, looking up from her laptop. “Alexander, would you review it before we send it out?”

He accepted the laptop, scanning the carefully worded statement that proclaimed Kane Industries’ commitment to transparency and ethical business practices. The language was strong, confident, defiant.

“This is perfect,” Alexander said, handing the laptop back. “It strikes exactly the right tone.”

Victoria’s eyes searched his face. “You’re certain? Once we release this, there’s no going back. We’re committed to full transparency.”

Alexander met her gaze without flinching. “I’m certain. The truth will set you free.”

The words hung in the air between them, loaded with meaning Victoria couldn’t possibly understand. But Alexander saw her shiver slightly, as if some part of her recognized the threat hidden in his supportive words.

Camille stood and stretched, exhaustion finally showing in her movements. “I need coffee before we move to the next phase. Anyone else?”

“I’ll come with you,” Alexander said, rising from his chair.

As they walked toward the executive kitchen, Camille leaned against him, seeking comfort in his presence. “I’m scared, Alex,” she admitted quietly. “What if we can’t stop this? What if everything Victoria built just… falls apart?”

Alexander wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. The scent of her shampoo filled his nostrils, familiar and comforting even as guilt ate at his insides like acid.

“It won’t fall apart,” he promised, and for once, he wasn’t entirely lying. Kane Industries wouldn’t simply collapse; it would be systematically dismantled, piece by piece.

Piece by piece, until nothing remained but the truth about Victoria’s crimes.

“How can you be so sure?” Camille asked, looking up at him with eyes full of trust and vulnerability.

Alexander cupped her face in his hands, studying the features he had memorized over months of marriage. Beautiful, intelligent, innocent Camille, who had no idea that her husband was her greatest enemy.

“Because,” he said softly, leaning down to kiss her lips, “I would never let anything happen to you.”

It was the most honest thing he had said all morning, and the biggest lie of all. Because when the truth finally came out, when Victoria’s crimes were exposed and Kane Industries crumbled, Alexander knew that Camille would be destroyed along with everything else.

But his uncle’s ghost demanded justice, and Alexander had chosen his path long ago. Even if it meant losing the only woman he had ever truly loved.

Alexander stood at the window of his office, watching the morning traffic crawl through the streets of Manhattan. His phone buzzed constantly on the desk behind him, but he ignored it. Three days had passed since Kane Industries’ stock had plummeted, and his carefully laid plans were supposed to be bearing fruit by now.

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