His Bride, Her Revenge-Chapter 74: The Lost Truth

The envelope felt impossibly heavy in Cambria’s hands. Thin paper, yet burdened with the weight of every unspoken doubt, every flicker of mistrust that had gnawed at her since the revelation of the Blackwood legacy. Her fingers trembled as she peeled back the seal, heart hammering in a chaotic rhythm that echoed in the sudden stillness of the penthouse.

The glossy photographs slid out moments stolen in shadowed rooms, faces close and breathless. Maddox, the man she had slowly come to trust, the man she thought she knew, tangled with Evelyn Stone, the woman who had haunted their lives like a dark shadow. Their closeness was intimate, raw, a betrayal written in every stolen glance, every hidden touch.

Her breath hitched. The room seemed to tilt around her. Was this real? Or some cruel trap? The photos whispered of lies she’d never imagined. The man who had promised her a future was suddenly an enigma wrapped in betrayal.

Knox, standing nearby, stiffened, his face a storm of anger and disbelief. "This changes everything," he muttered, voice rough and low. "If this gets out, Maddox’s empire crumbles and so does whatever chance you had with him."

Cambria shook her head, fighting the bitter sting rising behind her eyes. "No," she said softly, a fragile plea. "It can’t be true. There has to be an explanation."

The door swung open before Knox could respond. Maddox stepped in, his eyes instantly zeroing in on the envelope. Time seemed to stop a fragile tension stretching between them, thick with accusations and unspoken truths.

"Cambria..." His voice trembled slightly, a mixture of fear and desperation. "Put those down. Please. It’s not what you think."

She looked up, her gaze piercing. "Then tell me, Maddox. Tell me what it is."

His jaw clenched, his usual composure cracking. Slowly, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small flash drive, holding it out like a peace offering. "This has everything the real story about Evelyn, the threats, the blackmail. You have to believe me. I never betrayed you."

Knox snatched the drive, eyes dark with suspicion. "Then let’s see what secrets you’re hiding."

With a steady hand, Cambria plugged the flash drive into her tablet. The screen flickered to life, and files began to open: documents, videos, recorded conversations. The first clip played, and Cambria’s breath caught again, but not in the way she expected.

The footage showed Maddox and Evelyn in a tense meeting, far from the intimate betrayal the photos suggested. Evelyn was cold, sharp, and threatening. Her voice was venomous, filled with demands and ultimatums. Maddox was pleading bargaining with every word, trying to protect something more precious than himself.

The story unfolded: Evelyn had tangled herself in Maddox’s life through manipulation and blackmail, threatening to destroy not just his empire but Cambria’s rising media business. Maddox was caught in a ruthless game, forced to walk a razor’s edge to keep the people he cared about safe.

Tears welled up in Cambria’s eyes, but this time they were mixed with a fierce, aching relief. "Why didn’t you tell me?" she whispered.

Maddox stepped closer, voice low and raw. "I wanted to protect you. I thought I could handle it alone to keep you safe from the darkness that followed her. I was wrong."

Knox folded his arms, still wary but silently acknowledging the truth now laid bare. "We can’t keep secrets anymore. If we’re going to survive this, we need to face everything together."

Cambria nodded, the fire of determination burning bright within her. "No more lies."

Just then, her phone buzzed, breaking the fragile peace. A breaking news alert lit up the screen: Evelyn Stone was found dead in her penthouse, apparent suicide.

The broadcast played live footage of police swarming Evelyn’s building, flashing images of her lifeless body sprawled across the floor. Reporters speculated on motive and scandal, but beneath the surface, Cambria felt the dark pulse of something more sinister.

Maddox’s grip on her hand tightened. "This isn’t over," he warned. "Evelyn’s death... it’s just another move in this deadly game. We need to be ready."

Before Cambria could respond, her phone vibrated again an incoming text from an unknown number.

She hesitated, then opened it:

"You don’t know who to trust. Look closer or lose everything."

Her heart skipped, and the room seemed to close in tighter. The war for truth was far from over. The lost truth had been found, but the cost of uncovering it might be more than they were ready to pay.

The Next Day

Cambria sat at the long glass table in her penthouse office, the city skyline glowing behind her like a promise. The flash drive lay between her and Maddox, its contents a stark reminder of the fragile line they were walking. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

"We need allies," Knox said, breaking the silence. "People who can help us take down Blackwood’s empire and expose the rot beneath."

Maddox nodded. "And we have to do it fast. Evelyn’s death will only strengthen the shadows. We can’t let her legacy of lies win."

Cambria’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. "We start with the media. I have contacts who can ensure the truth reaches every corner but it has to be ironclad. We can’t afford a single misstep."

Knox glanced at Maddox. "And what about Blackwood? He won’t sit idle while we dismantle everything."

Maddox’s eyes darkened. "Then we prepare for war."

Later that night

Cambria stared at her reflection in the mirror, the woman looking back at her a mixture of strength and scars. The lost truth had shaken her to her core, but it had also sparked something fierce, a resolve to fight harder than ever before.

Her phone buzzed again another message from the unknown sender:

"Trust no one. Not even those closest."

She swallowed hard. In the game they were playing, the greatest enemy might not be Blackwood, Evelyn, or even Maddox. It might be the shadows within their own ranks.

Taking a deep breath, Cambria sent a reply:

"Then help me find the truth."

Outside, the city glittered beneath a moonlit sky, unaware that beneath its shimmering surface, a battle for power, love, and redemption was only just beginning.