Vanessa knew Sophie was allergic to shrimp, but she still pushed the plate toward her with a smile.

I didn’t sleep that night. I sat by Sophie’s bed, watching her breathe, listening to Julian’s voice repeating in my mind. Bury your daughter.

By morning, I made a decision. I would not run. I would not hide. Elena had died trying to expose him. I would not let her death be in vain.

But Julian was right—he had power. Influence. Friends in high places. If I went to the police with nothing but a scratched photograph and a threatening phone call, he would walk free. He would twist the truth. He would destroy my reputation. And then… he would kill Sophie.

I needed proof. Real, undeniable proof. And I knew exactly where to find it.

Julian kept his most sensitive records in a private study inside his sprawling estate—records he had never let anyone see, not even his own family. Marcus had once told me, casually, that Julian kept a “confession book” of sorts. A ledger where he wrote down every deal, every payment, every favor, every crime. He was arrogant enough to believe he would never be caught.

That ledger was the only thing that could bring him down.

But getting inside Julian’s estate was nearly impossible. High walls. Security cameras. Guards. And Julian himself—always watching, always suspicious.

I needed help. There was only one person who could give it to me. Vanessa.

I visited her again in jail. When I told her about Julian, her face drained of color. She sank back in the chair, trembling.

“Julian?” she whispered. “My father-in-law? But… he’s family. He’s always been so kind.”

“He killed Elena,” I said. “He ordered Marcus to do it. He’s the one pulling every string. And he’s still threatening Sophie.”

Vanessa stared at me, horror dawning in her eyes.

“Marcus… Marcus always did whatever Julian told him. He was terrified of him. Julian paid for everything. Bought Marcus his job. Gave him his status. If Julian told him to jump… Marcus asked how high.”

“Then you knew?” I asked. “You suspected?”

“I knew Marcus was afraid of him,” Vanessa said quietly. “I knew Julian controlled everything. But I never imagined… I never thought…” She took a breath, steadying herself. “What do you need from me?”

“I need to get into Julian’s study. I need the ledger. And I need you to tell me everything you know about his security. His habits. His weaknesses.”

Vanessa was silent for a long time. Then she leaned forward, her expression hardening into something determined.

“I’ll help you. Everything I know. Every code. Every hiding place. Every secret Julian thinks no one knows.” She paused, looking me directly in the eyes. “But when this is over… when Julian is behind bars… I need you to tell the truth. All of it. That I was forced. That I was manipulated. That I never wanted to hurt anyone.”

“I will,” I promised. “And Vanessa… I believe you. I believe you were just another person he used.”

She nodded, tears spilling over. And then she began to talk. For hours. Telling me everything. Codes. Routines. Camera blind spots. The location of the safe. The combination Julian had never changed.

By the time I left, I had everything I needed to walk into Julian’s estate, find the ledger, and bring the most powerful man I had ever known to his knees.

But as I walked out of the jail, my phone rang. Elias. His voice was frantic.

“Adrian! They were here! Someone got into the safe house!”

My heart stopped. “Sophie—”

“She’s gone,” Elias said, his voice cracking. “They took her. And they left a note.”

“Read it to me,” I whispered.

Elias took a breath.