His Bride, Her Revenge-Chapter 57: The Ghost of the Past

The weight of the conversation with Maddox hung heavy in the air long after the call ended. Cambria sat alone in her penthouse office, her mind racing with the implications of what he had revealed. His confession, though painful, had cracked open a door to the past one she had spent years trying to shut.

Maddox’s voice, filled with guilt and regret, echoed in her mind. "My father’s empire isn’t just about business. It’s built on a foundation of corruption, betrayal, and power. And I’ve been a part of it."

The words replayed, again and again, until they no longer felt like a shock. Instead, they were like a slow poison seeping into every part of her, infecting her thoughts and, more disturbingly, her heart.

Cambria had spent so many years building her own empire, climbing higher and higher, determined to reclaim her birthright and restore her father’s legacy. But now, everything she had fought for was at risk. Maddox, the man she had once loved, had been a part of the corruption she had spent so long fighting. He was complicit in the very system that had destroyed her world.

"I can’t protect you from this anymore."

His words were a cold slap in the face. How many times had he promised to protect her? And yet, he had allowed himself to be consumed by the very forces that had torn their lives apart. He had played the game, just like the rest of them.

The betrayal cut deep. But there was something else lingering in her chest: a twisted sense of empathy for Maddox, a woman who had once cared for him, trusted him, and believed in him. The thought of what he must have gone through, the pressure, the manipulation, still lingered in her mind. But that wasn’t enough anymore.

Her fingers tightened around the glass of whiskey in front of her. The burn of the alcohol as it slid down her throat did little to ease the gnawing feeling of betrayal in her gut. She had to focus. There was too much at stake now to allow emotions to cloud her judgment.

"You’re still the same man, Maddox," she thought bitterly. "Still playing both sides, still hiding behind lies."

Her phone buzzed, jolting her from her thoughts. It was a message from Elara.

"Cambria, I found something else. It’s about Maddox. He’s not just involved with Evelyn and your uncle. There’s someone else pulling the strings. Someone even more dangerous. Meet me. We need to talk."

Her pulse quickened as she read the message. Someone else? Another shadow lurking behind the veil? The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning: the conspiracy she had thought she was unraveling was far deeper, far more dangerous, than she had imagined. There was someone else involved, someone who had been working in the shadows, controlling the game from afar.

Cambria had always known the stakes were high, but now she understood just how much higher they truly were. It wasn’t just her empire at risk, it was everything.

She stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the polished floor. The room seemed to close in around her as the realization hit her like a punch to the stomach. She couldn’t do this alone anymore. She needed answers, and she needed them fast. The world she had fought so hard to build was teetering on the edge of destruction, and Evelyn, her uncle, Maddox, and whoever else were pulling the strings were all threats she couldn’t afford to ignore.

Elara was waiting for her at a quiet café, tucked away from the city’s bustling streets. When Cambria entered, she immediately spotted her, her expression tense, her eyes darting nervously around the room.

"Elara," Cambria said, sliding into the chair opposite her. "What did you find?"

Elara handed her a folder, her fingers trembling. "I’ve been digging into Maddox’s dealings, specifically, his connection to the offshore accounts. But what I found goes beyond that. There’s another name, Cambria. Someone in his past, someone connected to your uncle. Someone who has been pulling the strings all along."

Cambria’s breath hitched as she flipped open the folder. Inside, there were photos of Maddox with a man Cambria had never seen before. His name was Grayson Blackwood, a name that sent a chill down her spine. Grayson Blackwood was rumored to be one of the most powerful men in the underground world, with connections to both criminal organizations and high-profile politicians. His reach was vast, and his reputation for ruthlessness was unmatched.

But what was he doing in the middle of this?

"Elara, tell me everything," Cambria said, her voice steady, though her mind was racing.

"He’s been involved with your uncle for years," Elara continued. "And it gets worse. Blackwood is connected to several other major players in the city, including those behind Evelyn. He’s the one pulling the strings, orchestrating everything from the shadows. Your uncle was just a pawn. Evelyn, too. Blackwood is the mastermind."

Cambria’s heart sank. "Blackwood." The name felt like a ghost, haunting every part of her past she had tried to escape. This man wasn’t just a business rival; he was a criminal, someone who had controlled every move she had made. But why hadn’t she seen it before?

"Why hasn’t Maddox told me about this?" she asked, her voice shaking with frustration. "Why didn’t he tell me about Blackwood?"

Elara shrugged, her face pale. "Maddox was always too loyal to his family. Blackwood is dangerous, Cambria. You can’t trust anyone involved with him, not even Maddox."

Cambria slammed the folder shut, her frustration mounting. "Then what am I supposed to do? How do we stop him?"

"You don’t stop him," Elara said quietly. "You use him."

Cambria’s eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"We expose Blackwood," Elara continued. "We make sure the world knows who he is, what he’s done. And we use Maddox’s connection to him as leverage. If we can get Blackwood to play our game, he’ll do what we want. And if he doesn’t, we make sure he has nowhere left to hide."

Cambria leaned back in her chair, her mind working at full speed. She had spent so long chasing after Evelyn, after the lies her uncle had spread, that she had failed to see the true puppet master. But now, with this new information, everything is coming into focus. Blackwood was the key. If she could take him down, she could end the cycle of manipulation and deceit once and for all.

She stood up, a sense of resolve settling over her like armor. "Get everything we need on Blackwood. We’re not playing his game anymore. We’re going to expose him. And we’ll make sure everyone knows just how deep this corruption runs."

The next few days were a blur of activity as Cambria and Elara worked together to gather intel on Blackwood and his operations. The more they uncovered, the more dangerous he seemed. Blackwood had connections everywhere, from the highest levels of business to the deepest corners of the criminal underworld. Taking him down wouldn’t be easy.

But Cambria was no stranger to hard work. She had already fought for everything she had: her empire, her dignity, her future, and now, she was going to fight for the truth.

That night, as Cambria sat alone in her penthouse, she felt a momentary calm wash over her. The storm was still raging around her, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she was in control.

The phone buzzed once more, and this time, it was a message from Maddox.

"Cambria, I know what you’re thinking. But this fight, this war, is bigger than us. It’s bigger than you and me. Please let me help you. Let me fix this."

She stared at the screen, the pain of his words settling in her chest. But her mind was made up. She couldn’t trust him anymore. She couldn’t go back to the way things were.

Her fingers hovered over the screen before she typed a response.

"It’s too late, Maddox. You made your choice."