His Bride, Her Revenge-Chapter 59: The Escape Plan

The aftermath of the press conference left Cambria with a sense of grim satisfaction, but it also brought a heavier realization that she was now a target. The world was watching, and with it came the weight of expectations. It wasn’t just the media she had to deal with anymore; it was the people in the shadows, the ones who had been pulling the strings for far too long.

Elara had gone to work immediately after the press conference, reaching out to trusted sources to gather more intel on Grayson Blackwood. Cambria knew they couldn’t afford to take any more chances. The truth about her family’s empire, about the people who had used it for their own gain, was now out there. But even as she exposed Evelyn and Blackwood, she knew there was something bigger at play. The power they held was more dangerous than anything she had ever faced.

The night was Cambria’s only solace. The city lights below her penthouse window flickered like distant stars, reminding her of how far she’d come and how much further she still had to go.

Her phone buzzed on the desk again, and as she picked it up, she saw an unfamiliar number. She hesitated before answering, a flicker of unease creeping up her spine.

"Cambria," a voice said, deep and familiar, with an edge that made her heart skip a beat.

It was Maddox.

"I need you to listen to me." his voice was low, urgent. "There’s more to Blackwood’s operation than I’ve been able to tell you. You’re not just dealing with him anymore. There’s a bigger player involved who’s been working behind the scenes for years, controlling everything. If you don’t act fast, you won’t just lose the empire, you’ll lose everything."

Cambria’s breath caught in her throat. "Who?" she demanded, though a part of her already knew the answer. "Who else is involved?"

Maddox hesitated, and when he spoke again, his words hit like a bombshell. "It’s not just Blackwood. It’s my father. He’s been using you, using me, for years. He’s the one who set everything in motion. And if you don’t act now, he’ll take everything we’ve fought for."

Cambria’s vision blurred for a moment as the weight of his words sank in. Her mind reeled, her heart racing. Her father had been involved in this all along? The thought was too much to process. The man she had trusted most in the world, her father, was part of the conspiracy that had destroyed everything she had worked for.

"I don’t believe you," she whispered, her voice breaking. She wanted to reject the idea, to tell herself that Maddox was lying, that he was trying to manipulate her. But the truth was, she had no idea who to trust anymore.

Maddox’s voice softened. "Cambria, I’m not lying. I’m not trying to manipulate you. I’m trying to warn you. Your father, he’s been playing us both, and now, he’s going to finish what he started. He’s already in bed with Blackwood. If you don’t stop them, they’ll take everything."

Her pulse quickened as her thoughts spiraled. Her father, her own flesh and blood, had been the one pulling the strings behind all of this? She had been so focused on the people who had directly betrayed her, but now, it seemed, the man who had once promised to protect her had been the one orchestrating the downfall all along.

"You need to come to me," Maddox continued, his voice desperate. "There’s no time to waste. You have to listen. I can’t let you face this alone. We have to stop him together."

Cambria stood up, pacing across the room as her mind scrambled for answers. Trusting Maddox again felt impossible, but what other choice did she have? She had nothing left to lose, and if what he was saying was true, if her father was behind everything, then this was the only way forward.

"I’m coming," she finally said, her voice cold, determined. "But don’t think for a second that this changes anything between us. We’re not back together, Maddox. We’re only working together to destroy the ones who’ve ruined us."

"I know," he said quietly. "I don’t expect you to forgive me. But I’ll do whatever it takes to help you get the revenge you deserve."

By the time Cambria arrived at the old estate, the tension was palpable. The mansion loomed before her, just as imposing as it had been the last time she set foot on its grounds. But this time, everything felt different. She wasn’t the woman she had been when she walked out those doors years ago. She was stronger now, more powerful. And the world was hers for the taking.

Maddox was waiting for her in the study, a glass of whiskey in his hand as he stared out the window. The room was dim, the only light coming from the fire crackling in the hearth. The moment she walked in, he turned toward her, his face filled with a mixture of relief and guilt.

"You came," he said quietly, his voice hoarse. "I didn’t think you would."

"I came because I have no choice," Cambria replied, her eyes hard. "But don’t think for a second that this means anything more than business. We’re here to take down the people who’ve destroyed us. Nothing else."

Maddox nodded, his face darkening with determination. "You’re right. This is bigger than us. We’re both fighting for our futures now."

Cambria walked over to the desk, her eyes scanning the room as she absorbed everything. "So what’s the plan?" she asked, her voice sharp. "How do we take down Blackwood and my father?"

Maddox set his glass down and walked toward her. "We have to strike at the heart of it all. We expose Blackwood, yes, but we also have to get to my father. He’s the one who’s been orchestrating everything. Once we expose him, we take away his power."

Cambria shook her head. "You think it’s that easy? Your father is a master manipulator. He’s the one who’s been controlling this entire game. We can’t just expose him and expect it all to fall apart."

Maddox’s jaw tightened. "I know. But we have to try. The longer we wait, the more dangerous it gets. I’ve been fighting this war on my own for too long, Cambria. It’s time to fight back together."

Cambria paused, her mind racing with the implications. Working with Maddox was dangerous, but it was the only option she had. She needed the leverage. She needed to know that everything she had fought for wouldn’t be destroyed by the man who had once been her biggest ally.

"I’m in," she said, her voice firm. "But this is it. No more games. No more lies."

Maddox’s eyes locked onto hers, a flicker of hope in his gaze. "No more lies, Cambria. We do this right. Together."

Cambria left the estate later that evening, her mind already running through the steps she needed to take. She had a plan, but it wasn’t going to be easy. Blackwood was ruthless. Her father was just as dangerous. But if there was one thing she had learned over the years, it was that she could destroy anything that got in her way.

The city was still, almost eerily quiet, as she made her way back to the penthouse. The flickering lights in the distance seemed to mock her, a reminder of how far she had come and how much further she had yet to go.

But tonight, for the first time in a long while, Cambria felt the familiar sting of hope ignite within her. The road ahead was uncertain, but with every step, she was one step closer to reclaiming everything that had been taken from her.