Bullet in the Heart

nsington estate as the road extended in front of her. With every hour that went by, the burden of Zane's charges had grown heavier and heavie

p the winding path surrounded by immaculately trimmed hedges, Aurora felt her chest constrict. The vast home t

as she walked toward the big double doors, her heels clicking on the stone steps. In whatever space he entered, Michael Ke

Henry, the butler, who smiled slightly on his age

mly than she meant to,

d his brow slightly and said, "Yes, he

ed hastily, moving by him. She had

by the familiar smell of leather and polished wood. After a moment of hesitation, she pushed o

paperwork. The lines of age and stress on his face revealed a vulnerability she had n

tting down his pen. "

arms folded tightly across h

upward, his piercing eye

a Carrington," with a lit

ygen was the name that hovered between them. With an

e inquired, "Wh

e to blame for her demise. He claims that everything he has done and all he h

nd clasped his hands on the

eve anymore" broke Aurora's heart. "

ntimidating as he stood slowly. With his hands clasped behind his ba

said, "Bianca's death was a tragedy

then, would Zane believe otherwise?

g heavily on his face. "Because Zane requires an accuser." Someone who will be held r

her head. Dad, that is insufficient. More mu

s hardened. Aurora, exercise caution.

defiance and desperation. "Dad, stop acting l

conversation was too much for him to handle. "The truth

d I loved is telling me that you destroyed his family right now, and I'm

, leaning against it. He looked at her for a long

er, was growing his company. He came to me with a proposal for a collaboration

cing as she scowled.

d they weren't always successful. I was forced to make a decision as the transaction started to fall apart. I retrac

a quivering voice

t it all when his empire fell apart. Bianca was enmeshed in the consequences.

cloak, causing her to catch her breath. "

n't backed out of the agreement. He's mistaken, though. Elias made his own,

made sense, but it didn't fully address all of her queries. There wa

permeated the air. Aurora was left alone with his files a

sharp contrast to the disarray in her head. She barely paused before grabb

drew her attention. It was older, the label faded, the corners were worn. Notes, memos, and letters de

soon noticed a series of memos from someone at Carrington Enterprises alerting Elias to the dangers he was subjecting hi

ame at the botto

would not have been a mere spectator if she had been a part of the transaction; rather, she

ly observed Zane's suffering, but she had also participated in it. She may have also pushed Elias toward the de

as more significant than Zane and her father. Far more than she had ant

int of it all wa

her fingers curled around the edge of a ceramic mug, Aurora listened to the gentle hum of classical music. The once

forearms, which remained from the heavy labor he continued to perform even after he owned the shop, was visible

s?" With a soft yet for

e gazed into her mug. "I'm not sure," she said, her voice har

help, however, to just sit back and wait for replies. You need to figure out if Vivienne wa

es. She shook her head, saying, "It's not that easy." "I am at a loss on where to be

ll know." But she will keep winning if you do nothing. In w

x, with her cunning charm and poisonous grin, infiltrati

always there." whispering in his ear, always lurking in th

ps that is the reason she is dangerous. She is skilled at controlling him

ys been her rock, the constant presence she could count on in the face of chaos. Now, tho

she questioned, "What do

ging to your father indicated Vivienne. A trail must exist if this i

first spark of resolve. Bernard had a point. Witho

t to her father's desk with her fingers. With its tall bookcases and dark wood paneling, the chamber had long

er heart racing. She felt the weight of her family's history bearing down on her as she looked th

d contracts. In her hands, the faded paper crackled softly as she took

first picture. With their glasses up in a toast, women in sparkling gowns and men in tuxedos grinn

smile, Bianca was absolutely gorgeous. However, it was the woman

Vivie

s sharp features and piercing green eyes were clearly visible. With her hand lightly resting on Bianca's arm, she

" As she glanced through the other pictur

featured Vivienne and Bianca in the background of group photos, smiling, da

g changed when Vivienne and Bianca became friends. In Zane's vengeance, Vivienne's

arrington about the dangers he was undertaking, came to her. Could Vivienne have been more than

hink of was more damning than the last

d. Should Vivienne be concealing anything, Aurora would discover it. A web