Chapter 16 - THE GHOST FROM PARIS
Three months later, peace seemed to have returned to the Vance estate in the Hamptons.
The sun shone brightly over the manicured lawns, reflecting off the restored marble dining room.
Julian sat at the dining table, reviewing quarterly reports, while Emily—now wearing an elegant charcoal business suit—sat across from him.
"Board approval ratings are up thirty percent," Emily reported, turning a page on her tablet.
"Thanks to your restructuring of internal security," Julian smiled, taking a sip of fresh coffee.
Suddenly, Emily’s encrypted phone buzzed on the glass table.
She glanced down at the caller ID, and her warm expression instantly vanished, replaced by pale panic.
"What is it?" Julian asked, noticing the sudden shift in her body language.
"It's an international signal from Paris," she whispered, her fingers hovering over the screen.
She answered the call, putting it on speakerphone.
A woman's cold, accented voice echoed softly into the quiet room.
"Hello, Emily... or should I call you Lady Evelyn Vance?"
Julian froze, staring at Emily in sheer disbelief. "Lady Evelyn?"
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"Victoria..." Emily spat out the name with pure venom.
"Did you really think Arthur Sterling was the top of the pyramid, my sweet cousin?" Victoria laughed softly over the static line.
