Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
SOPHIE
Edmond was standing by the right window, a teacup in his hands, staring outside.
If not for the tension in his shoulders, I might have believed he had everything under control. But he seemed to forget that I knew him too well. His obsession with image, the constant lectures about creating the right impression.
He turned slowly. Something flickered in his eyes. Hurt? Relief?
“Fifi!” The devastation in my name repulsed me.
Leaning back against the closed door, I mentally calculated which armchair to choose. Not that it mattered—he could close the distance in a heartbeat. Still, I picked the one on the left, the farthest.
Hopefully, he’d understand the message.
“Mrs. Rowks,” I corrected, letting my fingers hover over the blue-and-gold fabric before sitting. When he moved closer, I added, “My bodyguard is outside.”
Without shifting his gaze from me, he stepped toward the opposite armchair. “Of course.”
When the staring became uncomfortable, I asked, “Did you invite me here to gawk or to talk?”
“You look fascinating.”
I sighed, turning toward the windows. “I was told you wanted to talk about Atlas?”
“Atlas. Yes. Is it… true?”
I turned back to him, raising my brows. Though maybe it was better than saying out loud, How do you think?
Shifting in his seat, he chuckled. “I know it isn’t true. You would never try to sabotage your brother!”
“What do you mean?”
Waving his hand in dismissal, he said, “Apparently we were supposed to beg Viktor’s mob cousin for permission to operate in the East. He put us through hell.” Edmond grimaced in disgust. “I guess attaching your name to Atlas was a way to stop us from our next move. Ethics, you know? Sly fox!”
My jaw clenched as anger coiled in my stomach. I didn’t like how he spoke about Viktor, dismissing him as some cunning predator. It wasn’t the first time, and it had never bothered me before. But now? Who did he think he was?
“What next move?” I tried to sound calm.
“Don’t take it into your head. You don’t need to worry. We’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“Safe?” I couldn’t contain the mocking in my voice. “Don’t take it into my head?”
“It’s just men’s business, I didn’t…”
“I’m not sure about Korolyov, but I’ve been leading Atlas since March. So tell me more about what you were planning to do.”
Edmond laughed. “Stop joking.”
I didn’t laugh.
“Fifi, c’mon. I know you’ve always been smart. Even too smart for a woman. But Atlas? It was in ruins.”
My throat tightened at his comment. Surely I had heard him incorrectly. Though wasn’t that something he used to say? Even back when we were engaged?
But I forced myself to breathe and said, “It’s Mrs. Rowks for you. Or do you need to be told twice to comprehend?”
His face froze at my comment.
“Now, if that’s all you came for…” I stood, ready to go.
“He’s using you, can’t you see?” he snapped.
“How exactly?” My tone didn’t waver.
“I don’t know.” He got to his feet, stopping a few steps away from me. “But a man who was able to orchestrate his own family’s death… How could you trust him?”
“Interesting,” I said, my voice ice-cold. “Wasn’t it you swearing it was him who organized my kidnapping?”
“One doesn’t exclude the other.”
“They happened on the same day. Same time. So following your—”
“He did that purposefully… He…”
I massaged my temples and stopped listening to his rambling. The painting on the wall seemed much more interesting.
I wasn’t sure where the confidence came from.
Was it leading Atlas that gave me the audacity, or Viktor?
Or perhaps the glass of champagne I’d had earlier with the girls.
I would never have dared to ignore someone so openly while they spoke.
Especially a man. Or was it the consequences of my disappointment in him?
When he noticed my detachment and fell silent, I said, my voice still ice-cold, “If you came to just spread accusations, I don’t have energy for that. But if you want to have a civil conversation, please do a better job of controlling your emotions.”
He stammered some apologies, but I raised a hand to stop him.
“And if you cut me off once again, I will not be this understanding.”
His expression froze. “I only want you well.”
“And you think you’re capable of deciding what’s well for me?” I sat back, this time putting one leg over the other.
In fact, I was still shaking. The comment about Viktor being the one who orchestrated his own family’s death was still on my mind. I looked around, hoping to find something to drink. As expected, Maison de Lys was always taking care of their guests.
As I reached for the jug of water and filled a glass, Edmond moved to help.
“No need.” I stopped him, still deep in my thoughts. There were many things I wanted to say, and I hoped a few sips would be enough to collect my thoughts.
“Let’s clear this once and for all.” I gestured for him to sit again, as it seemed we had more to discuss. And I wanted it to be final. “First—my kidnapping. You think I learned about his supposed participation from Rafa?”
He shifted in his seat.
I took a deep breath and told him what I’d once told Rafa—Sebastian calling Viktor, getting furious at being ignored.
“He had no idea.” I brushed the fabric of my dress. “And I believe him when he says he would have prevented everything if only he’d been there.”
Veins bulged in his neck. “Suppose,” he said after a pause. “That didn’t change the fact that druggie wretch had his eyes on what belonged to Alexander.”
My pulse spiked. “You dare to drag my husband’s name through the mud, and I’ll make sure your name will be a joke at every event.
” I raised my voice. “As for Alexander…” While I might still not know many details, there was one thing I was sure of.
“Their relationship had been getting warmer. Viktor would never—”
A scornful sound left Edmond’s mouth. “That was his plan. Get closer. Get trust. How can you be so blind not to question why on earth he was not in his own car?” he spat. “Yet somehow Alex and uncle sat there? Why?”
I closed my eyes. From what I knew, Viktor himself was supposed to use his car. But right before he left, they discovered the other two cars—both his father’s and half-brother’s—wouldn’t start. So he lent his keys to them.
Why no one had checked his car too, I didn’t know. But it was what it was. An accident. And if the Reniers were free to spread rumors, so was I.
“Acting suspicious? Let me try that game,” I said, looking directly into Edmond’s eyes.
“Wasn’t it your family event they were driving to?
One they could skip or be late to? Yet they demanded my husband’s car.
Not even checking that maybe something was wrong with that as well.
” My nails dug into the soft fabric of the chair.
“So what if they got into an accident my husband was targeted for?”
My blood started boiling with the horror of the conclusion I made. I forced myself to speak softly, to not show a hint of it.
“Viktor was getting closer with his father. And brother. There was no need for him to orchestrate anything. But we already concluded he was the target.” My voice cracked. I steadied it for my next words. “So, tell me, who may have wanted to kill my husband? Who would have benefited the most?”
Edmond opened his mouth, but I cut him off before he could speak.
“His father and brother obviously didn’t have any idea.” I swallowed. “But his stepmother? Was it Cecilia?”
Suddenly, it became clear why he had fought so hard to keep her from the inheritance.
“You’re hallucinating.”
“Did she kill her own son?” Air rushed out of me. “Is your father involved? Your grandfather? You?”
He started breathing heavily. “That is not true!”
Yet I could swear I saw a hint of doubt in his eyes.
“Go! Ask your father. Let’s see.”
He stood but didn’t move, his lips flattening into a hard line.
“Ah! And one more thing,” I said before he could leave. “I’d be generous and forgive you and your wife for spreading rumors about my private life with my husband. But dare you do it again, and I will not be this nice.”
His mouth twisted into a humorless smirk. “You really have changed.”
I tilted my head, smiling. What could I say? But when he kept staring, I rose from my seat.
“Anything else?” I asked, gesturing toward the door.
Edmond finally scoffed and moved toward the door without another word.
When he left, I slowly sank back into my seat, my hands shaking.
Slowly inhale.
Hold for a moment.
Exhale even slower.
It barely helped, and I twisted my ring several times.
That, combined with breathing, finally grounded me.
Anne’s face was white when she sat in front of me, holding her bump. “Is it true?”
I should have controlled my temper, knowing full well she had been listening. “I don’t know. I wanted to show him how not only one side can play the game.”
“But what you said sounded so obvious.” She turned away. “Did your husband—?”
Did he know? Suspect? I wasn’t sure.