Chapter 628

Bianca Semona stared at Annika Heilbronn's retreating figure, clutching the slip of paper with the phone number between her fingertips.

She looked down at the hastily scribbled digits, her pulse quickening.

The next morning, her uncle paid an unexpected visit.

"Bianca, these are the shares and property deeds I took from you before." Her uncle smiled obsequiously as he placed the documents on the coffee table. "I've added two commercial properties as well."

Bianca's hands trembled slightly.

She remembered how arrogantly he had seized the last remnants of her parents' estate during his previous visit.

Her aunt's overseas call came right after.

"I'm at the airport now. I'll arrive tomorrow." Her aunt's voice dripped with sycophancy. "I brought gifts for you."

Bianca hung up and stood motionless before the floor-to-ceiling window.

Sunlight washed over her pale face.

Three days later, all her relatives appeared at her doorstep as if by prior arrangement.

They came bearing gifts, smiles, and everything she had lost.

"This is the money your father lent me, with interest."

"These were your mother's favorite jewelry pieces. They belong to you now."

"The company shares have been transferred to your name."

Bianca accepted the documents mechanically, her mind blank.

At the funeral, her relatives wept more bitterly than she did.

They surrounded the gravestone, tearfully recounting the deceased's virtues.

Bianca stood at the periphery, her nails digging into her palms.

Late that night, Annika materialized in her bedroom like a ghost.

"Satisfied?" Annika leaned against the window frame, moonlight outlining her slender silhouette.

Bianca bolted upright. "Who are you really?"

"That's irrelevant." Annika's laugh was light. "What matters is your parents shouldn't have died."

Bianca's breath hitched.

"Vivian Laurent took everything from you." Annika's voice slithered into her ears like a venomous snake. "Your family. Your fortune. Even—"

"Enough!" Bianca interrupted. "What do you want?"

Annika stepped closer, her shadow engulfing Bianca. "I want Vivian to pay."

Bianca looked up into Annika's obsidian eyes.

"You can help me?"

"Naturally." Annika handed her a phone. "Use this to contact me."

The cold metal sent a shiver through Bianca as she accepted it.

"Remember." Annika's form began dissolving. "Tell no one."

Before the words faded, Bianca found herself alone again.

She looked down at the phone. The screen lit up suddenly.

A new message appeared:

"Let Vivian taste loss first."

Meanwhile, Isabella Langley made a breakthrough in her investigation.

"Bianca's father had a mistress. Six months pregnant." Isabella slid photos across to Vivian. "Her mother knew."

Vivian studied the images, brow furrowed.

"Stranger still," Isabella lowered her voice, "her mother's account received two million dollars a week before she died."

Vivian's head snapped up. "Trace the source?"

"Offshore account." Isabella shook her head. "Untraceable for now."

Vivian closed the file and gazed out the window.

The night stretched before them, dark and treacherous.