CHAPTER 22

The Luna Café wasn’t exactly what Darwin had expected. Nestled in a quieter corner of Bay City, the small coffee shop radiated a cozy charm that felt at odds with the high-stakes conversation he was about to have. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint hum of conversation, and the sunlight streaming through the large windows softened the atmosphere.

Darwin adjusted his tie as he entered, his sharp eyes scanning the room for Elena. Fiona followed close behind, her steps hesitant. Despite Darwin’s insistence that she stay at the estate for her safety, Fiona had refused. She wanted to hear whatever Elena had to say firsthand.

“There,” Fiona whispered, nodding toward a secluded booth in the back. Elena was seated, a steaming cup of coffee in front of her, her posture calm but alert.

Darwin took the lead, his expression unreadable as he approached the table. Elena looked up, her green eyes flickering with recognition and something that resembled relief.

“You came,” she said simply, gesturing for them to sit.

“We don’t have time for pleasantries,” Darwin said, sliding into the booth across from her. Fiona sat beside him, her gaze wary but curious. “You said you had information. Start talking.”

Elena’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Straight to the point. I respect that.” She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “William Newton has been planning this for years. Taking you down is more than a business move—it’s personal.”

Darwin’s jaw tightened, but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

“Years ago,” Elena began, “William lost a major contract to Atlas Group. It wasn’t just about the money—he lost face in front of some very powerful people. That humiliation sparked his vendetta against you. But what pushed him over the edge was Lilian.”

At the mention of her name, Fiona stiffened.

Darwin’s expression darkened. “What does Lilian have to do with this?”

Elena’s gaze shifted to Fiona, as if gauging her reaction. “William was in love with her. Or at least, he thought he was. When she left him for someone else, he blamed you. He became obsessed with the idea that you stole her from him. That obsession has fueled everything he’s done since.”

Fiona’s hands clenched into fists under the table. “So, he’s willing to ruin lives because of a grudge?”

“It’s more than that,” Elena said. “William isn’t just targeting Darwin. He’s targeting everyone close to him.” She paused, her eyes locking onto Fiona. “That includes you.”

Darwin’s hand instinctively moved to cover Fiona’s, a protective gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by Elena.

“How do you know all of this?” Darwin demanded. “What’s your connection to William?”

Elena hesitated, her calm façade faltering for the first time. “I used to work for him,” she admitted. “I was his assistant for three years. I saw firsthand how he operates—how far he’s willing to go to get what he wants. But I left when I realized just how dangerous he was.”

“And now you’re suddenly a Good Samaritan?” Darwin’s tone was sharp, his skepticism evident.

Elena’s jaw tightened. “I’m not doing this out of the goodness of my heart. William hurt me too. He used me, manipulated me, and then discarded me when I was no longer useful. I want to see him fall just as much as you do.”

Fiona studied Elena’s face, searching for any hint of deception. She wanted to believe her, but trust didn’t come easily—especially not in their current situation.

“If what you’re saying is true,” Fiona said carefully, “why warn us? Wouldn’t it be easier to let William’s plan play out and watch from the sidelines?”

Elena’s eyes softened, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through her guarded demeanor. “Because I know what it feels like to be a pawn in his game. And because I don’t want anyone else to suffer the way I did.”

Darwin leaned back in his seat, his expression contemplative. “You mentioned alliances. Who else is working with him?”

Elena’s gaze darted around the café, as if she feared being overheard. “There’s a network,” she said quietly. “Other CEOs, politicians, even media executives. William has dirt on all of them, and he’s using that leverage to pull them into his orbit. Bella Robbins is just one of his many puppets.”

“Why Bella?” Fiona asked. “What’s her connection to him?”

Elena smirked. “Ambition. She’s desperate to climb the corporate ladder, and William promised her a shortcut. In exchange, she feeds him information about Atlas Group and helps sow chaos from within.”

Fiona’s stomach churned at the revelation. Bella’s betrayal stung more than she cared to admit, even though she had suspected it for some time.

Darwin’s voice cut through her thoughts. “If William has all these resources, how do we fight back?”

Elena’s expression turned serious. “You expose him. William thrives in the shadows, manipulating people from behind the scenes. But if you shine a light on his actions, his web of alliances will start to unravel. People won’t want to be associated with him once his true nature is revealed.”

“And how do we do that?” Darwin pressed.

Elena reached into her bag and pulled out a flash drive, sliding it across the table. “This is a start. It’s a collection of emails, financial transactions, and recorded conversations that tie William to illegal activities. It’s not everything, but it’s enough to make people start asking questions.”

Darwin picked up the drive, his expression unreadable. “Why give this to us? Why not take it to the authorities?”

“Because William has connections there too,” Elena said bitterly. “If you go through official channels, he’ll bury the evidence before it ever sees the light of day. You need to be strategic. Release it to the public in a way he can’t control.”

Fiona glanced at Darwin, noting the tension in his shoulders. She could tell he was weighing their options, calculating the risks and rewards of trusting Elena.

“Why should we believe you?” he asked finally.

Elena met his gaze, her expression unwavering. “You don’t have to. But ask yourself this: can you afford not to?”

The weight of her words settled over them like a heavy cloud.

Darwin slid the flash drive into his pocket and stood. “We’ll consider it.”

Elena nodded, a hint of relief in her eyes. “Be careful, Mr. Solomon. William doesn’t play fair. And he’s always one step ahead.”

As Darwin and Fiona left the café, the tension between them was palpable. The flash drive in Darwin’s pocket felt heavier with every step, a physical reminder of the battle they were about to face.

“Do you think she’s telling the truth?” Fiona asked as they reached the car.

Darwin hesitated, his hand resting on the door handle. “I don’t know. But we can’t afford to ignore it.”

As the car pulled away from the café, Fiona couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced out the window, her eyes scanning the street for anything out of the ordinary.

In the distance, a figure stood in the shadows, their face obscured. Fiona’s heart skipped a beat as the figure stepped back, disappearing into the darkness.