Chapter 3

"Talk?" I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, smirking at him. "Colonel Grant, what could we possibly have left to talk about?"

I made a point of really stressing the word "Colonel."

Christopher's expression soured more.

He took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool. "Natalie, I know you hate me.

"But are you really trying to blow everything up for all of us? Do you realize how bad this could get? This isn't only bad for me; it's bad for you and for the Sinclair family, too."

"Oh?" I arched an eyebrow. "What's the downside for me? I've got nothing left. I have nothing to fear. And the Sinclair family?

"My dad's dead, and you're the one who put him up on the pillar of shame. What could possibly be worse than that?"

My words cut through Christopher like a blade, and his face went very pale.

Vivian broke free from his grip, pointed right at me, and spat, "Natalie, don't get cocky. You really think that bit of dirt you have can bring Christopher down?

"My dad's the mayor. With one word from him, your so-called evidence is nothing but worthless scraps."

"Is that so?" I turned to Christopher, locking eyes with him. "Is that how you see it too?"

Christopher stayed silent, but that silence spoke volumes.

He wasn't here to beg for forgiveness; he came to threaten me.

He thought I was still the easy target he could manipulate whenever he felt like it.

I said with a grin, "Ms. White, guess what? The evidence I sent to the investigators isn't only about Christopher. Your dad is in there too."

Vivian froze. "You're making this up."

"Making it up?" My smile dropped, replaced by a cold glare. "Your dad used his power to clear the way for Christopher's promotion, and every single favor he took is logged, down to the last dollar.

"And you, Ms. White? Remember those shady properties in your name and the sudden piles of cash in your bank account? Need me to remind you where all that came from?"

Vivian was totally dumbfounded, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at Christopher, as if searching for answers.

Christopher finally looked genuinely rattled.

He never imagined I'd dig this deep or pull so many people down with him.

He thought I was some jealous, crazy woman, out for payback with a cheating scandal.

He really underestimated me.

"Natalie, what the hell do you want?" Christopher finally dropped the act, his face twisted with rage. "You're destroying all of us. What do you get out of this? Your dad's case is already set in stone. There's no way you can overturn it."

"No way to overturn it?" I let out a cold laugh. "We'll see about that."

"You really think the committee's going to buy your one-sided story? Without real evidence, you're slandering us," Christopher barked, but I could hear the fear shaking his voice beneath all that bravado.

"Who says I don't have proof?" I locked eyes with him. "Christopher, did you forget? I made a backup of that diary you snatched from me three years ago."

Christopher's pupils shrank.

That diary was the so-called 'smoking gun' he used to pin everything on my dad.

But he messed with it.

He chopped out anything that could've cleared my dad, twisted the rest, and spun it into a pile of fake evidence.

Only he and I knew the truth.

He thought I was so devastated back then that I wouldn't pay attention to any of the details.

He never imagined I'd keep a complete copy of the diary before handing it over.

"You trying to bluff me?" Christopher stared me down, desperate to catch any hint that I was faking.

I looked right back at him, totally unfazed. "Want to bet? See if I'm bluffing."

Cold sweat broke out on Christopher's forehead.

He wouldn't risk it.

If I really had that diary copy and handed it in, it'd nail him for faking evidence and framing his boss.

That was way worse than taking bribes or lining his pockets.

He'd be done for.

Christopher's voice softened, a hint of desperation creeping in. "Natalie, please give me the diary. What do you want? Money? A house? Name it, and I'll give you anything."

"What I want, you could never give me," I cut him off coldly. "All I want is for you and every last person who hurt my dad to get exactly what you deserve."

"Are you really going to take us all down with you?" Christopher's eyes went cold and sharp.

I said, meeting his gaze. "Christopher, this is only the beginning."

With that, I shut the door in their faces, not sparing them another glance.

Outside, I could hear Vivian's frantic cursing and Christopher's suppressed growl.

I leaned against the door, my heart pounding in my chest.

I knew my words had lit a fuse under them.

Now, they'd throw everything they had at me.

I had to be faster, and I had to be ruthless.

I pulled out my backup phone and called a number I hadn't used in three years.

The phone rang for what felt like forever before someone finally picked up.

"Hello?" A voice came through, old and wary.

"Samuel," my voice was shaky as I said, "it's Natalie, Richard's daughter."

There was a long silence on the other end.

After what felt like forever, a long sigh finally came through. "Natalie, you finally reached out."