Chapter 927
“Skye!” the girl squealed.
Before Skye could react, the girl bounded across the room and wrapped her in a hug that smelled of strawberries and expensive shampoo.
“Thank God you’re okay,” Victoria whispered fiercely into Skye’s ear, squeezing tight. “When I heard about the explosion at the manor, I thought I’d lost my favorite escape driver.”
Skye hugged her back, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. “I’m fine, Vic. Just… dealing with the fallout.”
Victoria pulled back and composed her face into a mask of bubbly ignorance, glancing at the butler nearby. “Alistair has been such a dear bringing me here. He talks about business non-stop — it’s adorable.”
Skye caught the look in Victoria’s eye. The act was for the staff, for the world outside.
Alistair rubbed the back of his neck, looking as though he wanted the floor to swallow him whole. He couldn’t meet Skye’s eyes. “Victoria insisted on coming. We have… news.”
𝗧𝗵e 𝗆𝘰𝗌𝘁 𝗽ор𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘳 n𝘰𝗏еls o𝗻 𝗴𝗮l𝗻o𝗏𝗲𝘭𝗌.𝖼о𝘮
“We’re engaged!” Victoria announced, flashing a diamond ring that looked heavy enough to sink a small boat. “Ideally I wanted a summer wedding, but Daddy says the merger can’t wait.”
Skye felt a sharp pang in her chest. Just days ago, Alistair had defied Beatrice at the funeral, calling Skye his fiancée in front of the entire family. Now this.
“It’s fake, Skye,” Victoria said quickly, dropping her voice to a whisper as she leaned in, the bubbly demeanor vanishing entirely. “A total sham. Daddy is threatening to cut me off if I don’t secure a powerful connection immediately. The board is in a panic over the attack. They need a show of stability.”
Alistair finally looked at Skye, his expression tortured. “I’m sorry. I know what I said at the funeral. I meant every word. But right now, with Silas’s shadow companies circling, if I don’t lock down the Hayes logistics network, we lose everything Grandpa built. This is just a strategic alliance. A shield.”
“Better me than some ancient fossil from the board, right?” Victoria added, winking. “Plus, I know you two are the real deal. I’m just the sparkly distraction.”
She drifted over to Julian’s map. “Ooh, are we plotting world domination? Count me in. I’m already bored of wedding planning.”
Julian studied her. His eyes narrowed. “Miss Hayes, does your father know you are here?”
“Obviously.” Victoria tapped her phone. “I just live-streamed my arrival. ‘Chilling at the Vance spooky mansion with my new besties.’ Five thousand views already. Keeps the assassins away if the public knows where I am.”
Julian looked at Skye. “She understands the game better than she lets on.”
“She’s sharper than she looks,” Skye agreed.
“She is the key to the ports,” Julian corrected. “The Mastermind needs shipping routes to move his hardware. If we control Victoria, we control the Hayes fleet.”
Alistair handed Skye a thick, cream-colored envelope with gold lettering. “What is this?”
“An invitation,” Alistair said. “The Hayes Charity Gala. Tomorrow night. Victoria’s official introduction to society.”