CHAPTER 31

The city seemed to pulse with tension the next morning as the fallout from the latest revelations rippled across every news outlet. The exposé exposing William’s use of fabricated documents had turned public opinion against him again. But Darwin and Fiona knew the reprieve was temporary. William was too cunning to go down without a fight.

Darwin sat at the head of the long table in the penthouse study, his face set in grim determination. Fiona, Thalassa, Marcus, and Rachel were seated around him, their expressions varying degrees of exhaustion and resolve.

Marcus spoke first. “We’ve hit him hard with the evidence of those fake documents. His credibility is crumbling, but he’s already making moves to shift the narrative. He’s claiming the documents were planted by us to frame him.”

Rachel scoffed. “Typical. When he’s cornered, he doubles down. But we can’t let him dictate the story anymore.”

Darwin nodded. “Agreed. We need to push harder, faster. If we don’t keep the momentum, he’ll find a way to turn this back on us.”

Fiona leaned forward, her voice steady but tinged with urgency. “What’s our next move? There has to be something we can do to end this for good.”

Marcus glanced at Darwin. “I might have a lead. One of my contacts flagged some suspicious activity tied to William’s offshore accounts. If we can connect those accounts to illegal transactions or bribes, it’ll be the final nail in his coffin.”

“Do it,” Darwin said without hesitation. “Whatever you need, you have it.”

---

Hours turned into days as Marcus worked tirelessly to trace the offshore accounts. Meanwhile, Darwin and Fiona coordinated with Rachel to release a steady stream of updates, keeping the public informed and maintaining pressure on William.

Despite the progress they were making, Fiona couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled over her since the threatening message. Every time her phone buzzed, her heart would skip a beat, expecting another cryptic warning.

It wasn’t until the third night that the tension boiled over. Fiona was in the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water, when the penthouse’s intercom buzzed.

“Who could that be at this hour?” she muttered, heading to the panel.

Darwin appeared behind her, his brow furrowed. “Don’t answer it.”

The intercom buzzed again, more insistently this time. Darwin activated the monitor, revealing a courier standing at the front desk of the building.

“I have a package for Ms. Fiona Woods,” the man said.

Fiona frowned. “I wasn’t expecting anything.”

Darwin’s expression darkened. “Stay here. I’ll handle it.”

He descended to the lobby, his mind racing. Something about this felt off. When he reached the desk, the courier handed him a small, plain envelope.

“Who sent this?” Darwin demanded.

The courier shrugged. “No idea, sir. It was dropped off at the distribution center with instructions to deliver it tonight.”

Darwin’s grip on the envelope tightened. He dismissed the courier and returned to the penthouse, his unease growing with every step.

Fiona met him at the door, her eyes wide with concern. “What is it?”

Darwin handed her the envelope. “It’s addressed to you. But we’re opening it together.”

Fiona nodded, her fingers trembling slightly as she tore open the envelope. Inside was a single photograph.

Her breath caught in her throat. The photo was of her and Darwin, taken through the window of the penthouse. The angle suggested it had been taken from a nearby building, the clarity of the image leaving no doubt that they were being watched.

Scrawled across the bottom of the photograph in red ink were the words: “You can’t hide forever.”

Fiona’s knees buckled, and Darwin caught her before she could fall. “It’s him,” she whispered. “He’s watching us.”

Darwin’s jaw tightened. “I’ll take care of this.”

---

The next morning, Darwin’s security team descended on the building. Every possible angle of surveillance was combed for clues, and nearby buildings were checked for signs of a hidden observer. Despite their best efforts, they found nothing.

“It’s like he’s a ghost,” Marcus said, frustration evident in his voice.

Darwin slammed his fist on the desk. “He’s not a ghost. He’s a coward hiding in the shadows, and I’ll drag him into the light if it’s the last thing I do.”

Fiona placed a hand on his arm. “Darwin, we can’t let him control us like this. We need to focus on the bigger picture. If Marcus’s lead pans out, it’ll be over for him.”

Darwin took a deep breath and nodded. “You’re right. But we’re not taking any chances. I’m doubling security around the clock. I won’t let him get anywhere near you.”

Fiona’s resolve hardened. “And I won’t let him win. We’ve come too far to let fear stop us now.”

---

Three days later, Marcus finally struck gold.

“I found it,” he announced, bursting into the study where the team was gathered. “William’s been funneling money through a series of shell companies to pay off key players in his schemes. Bribes, blackmail, you name it. And I’ve got the paper trail to prove it.”

Darwin’s eyes gleamed with determination. “Good work. Compile everything and send it to Rachel. This is the final blow.”

Marcus hesitated. “There’s one more thing. The shell companies aren’t just tied to his bribery schemes. One of them made a significant payment to a private investigator. That investigator has been tailing Fiona for months.”

Fiona’s blood ran cold. “He’s been watching me all this time?”

Marcus nodded grimly. “Yes. And the payment details match the courier who delivered that photograph.”

Darwin’s fists clenched. “He’s crossed a line. It’s time to end this.”

---

That evening, Rachel published the article exposing William’s offshore accounts and the full extent of his illegal activities. The reaction was immediate and explosive. News outlets ran the story nonstop, and public outrage reached a fever pitch.

William released a statement denying the allegations, but it was clear his empire was crumbling. Investors abandoned him, legal investigations were launched, and his carefully constructed facade began to collapse.

But even as victory seemed within reach, Fiona couldn’t shake the feeling that the battle wasn’t over.

Late that night, as she stood on the balcony, her phone buzzed again.

This time, the message was a single word: “Tomorrow.”

Fiona stared at the screen, her heart pounding. She turned to find Darwin standing in the doorway, his expression dark with worry.

“He’s planning something,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Darwin stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. “Let him try. Whatever he has planned, we’ll face it together.”

But deep down, they both knew the storm was far from over.