Chapter 12 - The Villa of Shadows
The Villa Rose was a sprawling, fortress-like estate nestled on the shores of Lake Geneva, surrounded by high concrete walls and armed guards. Midnight shadows stretched across the pristine gardens as Julian, Eleanor, and a tactical unit led by Marcus Kane breached the outer perimeter.
Using suppressed rifles, Marcus’s men neutralized the guards with surgical precision. Eleanor and Julian moved through the grand mahogany hallways of the mansion, their handguns raised, hearts pounding in unison.
They reached the central glass atrium overlooking the dark waters of the lake. Sitting at an antique desk, calmly sipping a glass of red wine, was Victoria Vance. She looked immaculate, dressed in a tailored white suit, completely unbothered by the sudden intrusion.
"You always did have your father’s terrible habit of rushing into rooms uninvited, Eleanor," Victoria said smoothly, setting her wine glass down with a soft click.
"Mother," Eleanor said, her gun pointed directly at Victoria’s chest. "It’s over. The police have surrounded the estate. Your accounts are frozen."
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Victoria let out a soft, elegant laugh. "Oh, my sweet, naive daughter. Do you really think I care about the money?"
Victoria stood up, stepping around the desk, her sharp gaze fixing on Julian. "The Sterlings destroyed my life thirty years ago. They stole my research, bankrupt my father, and drove him to suicide. I didn't build this network for money, Eleanor. I built it for retribution."
