Chapter 3
The day I was discharged, a cold, miserable drizzle had settled over Riverdale.
I didn't go to the apartment Thomas had so graciously "bestowed" upon me. Instead, I headed straight to the place Joe had already prepared.
It was an ultra-luxurious penthouse duplex floating high above the city center. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling glass, the sprawling, neon-lit skyline of Riverdale looked like it belonged to me.
Joe was already standing in the foyer waiting.
When I walked in, he offered a deep bow. "Welcome home, Ms. Crane."
I gave a tight nod, taking in the sheer opulence of the space. A chaotic storm of emotions was ripping through me.
This was the world I actually belonged to.
"How is my father?" I asked softly.
Joe's eyes immediately glassed over. "Mr. Crane has been waiting for you every single day. He told me that whenever you were ready to come back, the Crane family would always be here to welcome you home."
Once again, I couldn't stop the tears from falling.
Eight years ago, I completely severed ties with the man who raised me, the man who treated me like his absolute universe, all because he begged me not to marry Thomas.
I was so convinced I had found the love of my life. I had no idea I was just starring in my own pathetic, delusional tragedy.
Now that the fantasy was dead, I realized the only man who ever truly loved me unconditionally had never stopped waiting for me to come home.
"Joe, I need you to do something," I said, swiping the tears away. My eyes were completely clear now. "I need the complete dossiers on every single active project at Shaw Enterprises. Leave nothing out."
Joe didn't ask a single question. He just bowed his head. "Right away, Ms. Crane."
His efficiency was terrifying. Barely four hours later, a massive binder of confidential corporate data was dropped onto my desk.
I tore through the pages, speed-reading the financials, and a slow smirk started to spread across my face.
Every single move Shaw Enterprises made was orchestrated by me. Thomas thought he had absorbed the essence of my mind and could survive without me? How childish.
He only held the power that I allowed him to have. The second I stopped feeding him, he would starve.
It took me less than an hour to find the perfect kill shot: the Eastside Core Project, which Shaw Enterprises was currently bidding for.
It was the most prestigious development this year. Winning this bid meant massive profits and the ultimate symbol of status and power.
Thomas had been obsessing over this bid, bleeding his team dry for six straight months.
And the genius architectural and financial strategy he was banking everything on was built on my labor. I stayed up for three days straight drafting it while he was conveniently "working late," sleeping in Claire's bed.
Little did he know, I quietly planted a fatal trap within those pages, a fatal flaw that only I knew how to expose.
I picked up my phone and dialed a private number.
"Good evening, is this Mr. Lewis of Pinnacle Holdings? This is Evelyn Crane."
Robert Lewis was Thomas' fiercest rival in the industry.
He sounded completely thrown. "Ms. Crane? Well, your reputation certainly precedes you. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Please, Mr. Lewis, you're too kind," I purred smoothly. "I'm aware you are aggressively pursuing the Eastside Core Project. It just so happens I have a little package that guarantees you walk away with the contract. Care to hear me out?"
Robert went dead silent for a full ten seconds before a booming laugh echoed through the speaker. "I like a woman who cuts to the chase, Ms. Crane. Skyview Cafe. 8:00 PM. I shall be looking forward to your arrival."
I ended the call and stared out at the darkening sky, my eyes glittering with pure malice.
This was only the first of many gifts for Thomas.
He wanted to build a paradise with his precious Claire on the ruins of my life? I didn't think so.
I was going to tear his wings off and send him crashing down from the heights he never deserved.