Chapter 5: Victoria’s Desperate Gambit
While peace settled over Sterling Manor, a storm raged in the penthouse of Kensington Tower in Manhattan.
Victoria Kensington paced back and forth across her white marble living room, her crimson dress from the previous evening discarded on the floor. Her father, Richard Kensington—a ruthless private equity magnate with cold, calculating grey eyes—sat on the sofa, sipping black coffee.
"This is an absolute catastrophe, Father!" Victoria shrieked, hurling a crystal vase against the wall, sending shards flying across the floor. "Thomas knelt before that cleaning woman in front of the entire diplomatic circle! The tabloids are printing morning editions! Our impending merger with Sterling Global will collapse if he breaks off our engagement!"
Richard set his cup down with measured calm. "Calm yourself, Victoria. Panic is the weapon of the weak. Who is this woman?"
"Her name is Helen Vance," Victoria spat, venom dripping from every syllable. "She was Tom's childhood sweetheart before she supposedly drowned twenty years ago. She is nothing now! A penniless vagrant with an illegitimate child!"
Richard’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly at the mention of the name Helen Vance. A flicker of ancient dread crossed his weathered face, quickly masked by his customary coldness.
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"We have spent seven years positioning you to secure the Sterling fortune," Richard said coldly. "We will not let a ghost from the gutter dismantle our dynasty. Call the private security firm. Have the hospitality agency accuse her of grand larceny—say she stole diamond jewelry from the guest suites last night. If the police arrest her, Tom will be forced to distance himself to protect his corporate reputation."
Victoria smiled, a cruel gleam returning to her eyes. "Consider it done. By tonight, Miss Vance will be in a holding cell where she belongs."
