Chapter 63

[ 736 words ]

Chapter 63

Especially now.

By this point, Stella had likely received the news about Azure Heights being vandalized.

The condo she had prepared as her escape route for divorce was destroyed.

She was probably standing in the middle of the wreckage, crying.

The thought finally gave Summer a flicker of satisfaction.

For the first time in days, she felt like she’d struck back.

“And Evan… Mom, I…”

The relief vanished as quickly as it had come.

For the past six months, Evan had been by her side constantly.

She had convinced herself he felt something for her.

But these past few days – the way he reacted to Stella – had planted a sense of unease she couldn’t shake.

Ruby’s gaze sharpened.

“Don’t rush things with Evan. Stella comes first.”

Summer nodded.

“You’re right. We deal with Stella first.”

With her mother here, she finally felt grounded again.

Like she had her backbone back.

She was about to continue when Ruby’s phone rang inside her handbag.

She pulled it out and glanced at the screen before answering.

“Alex.”

It was her assistant.

His voice came through tight and serious.

“Ma’am, there’s a fire at Bay International.”

“What?”

Ruby shot up so abruptly that the chair behind her crashed to the floor with a loud bang.

Her face drained of color as her grip tightened around the phone.

“What do you mean, a fire?”

“The cause is still under investigation,” Alex said. “But the flames are intense. Property management

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couldn’t contain it. Fire crews are on their way.’

Bay International.

Her pride.

The estate that symbolized everything she had clawed her way toward.

A single mother who had fought her way into the uppermost tier of society.

Whenever she was in Harbor City, that was where she stayed.

She had just landed.

Hadn’t even gone home yet.

And it was burning?

Coincidence or deliberate?

“How big is the fire?” she demanded. “How can they not control it?”

Important documents.

Valuable jewelry.

Everything irreplaceable was in that house.

Hearing the words ‘not under control’ made her blood pressure spike.

“It’s spreading fast,” Alex admitted. “They’re trying”

Trying but failing.

Ruby’s eyes narrowed.

“Find out exactly what caused it.”

It had better be an accident.

If it wasn’t-

The thought sharpened her gaze into something lethal.

She had made enemies in business over the years.

But if someone dared retaliate like this, they would regret it.

She ended the call.

Summer looked up nervously.

“What happened? Why would Bay International catch fire?”

“How would I know?” Ruby snapped. “That’s what I’m having him investigate.”

She forced herself to steady her breathing.

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The fire had to be contained.

It had to be.

Otherwise the losses would be catastrophic.

Summer shrank back slightly.

Even as Ruby’s daughter, she avoided her when she was in this mood.

But then something occurred to her.

“Could it be… Stella?”

Ruby paused mid-step and looked at her.

“Stella?”

“She’s been reckless lately,” Summer said quickly. “Look at the chaos she’s already caused in Harbor City.”

In Summer’s mind, Stella was capable of anything now.

Ruby let out a dismissive laugh.

“She’s stirred up some low-level media noise. That’s all.”

“She doesn’t have the reach to touch Bay International.”

Her tone was full of contempt.

An orphan who grew up in a welfare home?

She probably couldn’t even get past the security gates at Bay International.

Set fire to it?

Ridiculous.

But even as she said it, a faint crack of doubt flickered through her mind.

Her phone rang again.

Alex.

She answered immediately.

“Ma’am,” he said gravely, “the two villas in the East District have been vandalized.”

Ruby’s voice shot up.

“What?”

Summer froze.

Ruby’s composure snapped.

First Bay International.

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Now the East District villas?

Was someone trying to wipe her off the map?

To leave her with nothing?

Her fingers tightened around the phone so hard her knuckles turned white.

“Find out who did this,” she hissed. “Dig deep. Nwant names.”

Her voice rose into a full roar.

“Whoever is behind this… I will crush them.”

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Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.

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