Chapter 21

The coffee in my mug had gone completely cold, but I barely noticed. I sat behind my desk, staring at the small glowing dot on my tablet screen. The dot was moving slowly down the main street of the city, heading straight toward the old docks near the water.Elara knocked softly before stepping into the room. She carried a neat stack of folders, but her face was bright with excitement. She shut the door behind her and leaned against it, letting out a breath she seemed to be holding for an hour."The swap is fully done, Ahtisa," Elara said, her voice low as she walked over to my desk. "I personally checked the shared drive before I came up here. The real files are wiped. The only thing Isabella has on her flash drive right now is the dummy routing data your father made. If she plugs it into Vanguard’s system, they will see exactly what we want them to see."I looked down at the tablet. The little glowing dot had stopped moving. It was sitting right on top of the harbor café."She i

Chapter 22

The drive to Lucien’s house was completely quiet. Rain started to tap against the glass just as we pulled into his long driveway. I stared out at the dark trees passing by, feeling the tension from the long day at the office slowly leave my shoulders.Victor stopped the car right by the front entrance. He didn't say a word, just stepped out with a large umbrella to open my door and guide me inside out of the damp cold.Lucien’s private home was different from the grand, showy mansion Adrian had insisted on buying with my father's money. It was large, but it felt private and closed off from the rest of the city. The lights inside were soft and warm."Victor will bring the folders up to the study," Lucien said, taking his long dark coat off and handing it to a waiting maid. He turned his dark eyes to me, looking at my tired face. "Have you had anything to eat tonight, Ahtisa?""I haven't really been hungry," I admitted, crossing my arms tightly against the chill."I thought so," he mu

Chapter 23

The rain did not stop by the time morning came. I barely slept two hours, my mind spinning with everything Lucien had said to me in the study the night before. I arrived at the office early, long before the rest of the staff, wanting to lose myself in the work so I wouldn't have to think about how warm my skin felt every time his name crossed my mind.Elara was already waiting at her desk outside my door, a large paper bag from the bakery downstairs sitting next to her computer. She looked up and gave me a bright, supportive smile as I walked up."I got us the good breakfast pastries," she said, lifting the bag. "And the strongest coffee they had. We are going to need it if we are going into those old server files today.""You are a lifesaver," I said, unlocking my office door and holding it open for her. "Bring it all inside. Let's start before the phone starts ringing."We set up at the small round table in the corner of my room. Elara pulled out her laptop and connected it to the

Chapter 24

The room smelled like old smoke and cheap cleaner. I sat on the edge of the squeaky bed, staring at my phone for what felt like the hundredth time today. Nothing. No texts, no missed calls, just a blank screen. Isabella had been gone for over twenty-four hours now, ever since she supposedly went to secure that deal with Vanguard’s assistant.I dialed her number again, pressing the phone tightly against my ear. It rang three times before going straight to voicemail."Damn it, Isabella!" I slammed my fist down onto the flimsy mattress, the springs groaning loudly under my weight. "Pick up the phone!"She had the money. I knew she did. She was supposed to get half a million dollars for those routing files, and now she wasn't answering me. The thought of her sitting in some luxury hotel while I was rotting in this dump made my blood boil. She was playing me. I could feel it in my gut.A sharp knock on the door made me jump. I stood up quickly, thinking it might finally be her, and yanked

Chapter 25

The yellow paper felt rough against my fingers. I sat at my desk, reading the words Adrian had written, but my heart remained entirely cold. He remembered the rain, the green dress, and the tiny coffee shop down by the old station. In my past life, a letter like this would have made me sob with gratitude. I would have packed my bags, forgiven him for everything, and begged him to come back home.Now, I just felt a deep sense of disgust. It was so obviously a script, carefully designed to pull at my old strings.Elara walked into the office, carrying a tray of fresh water. She noticed the paper in my hand and paused. "Is that what the front desk sent up?""Yes," I said, tossing the paper onto the desk. It fluttered and slid across the smooth surface, stopping near the edge. "Adrian left it. He is trying to act like a broken man who just wants his wife back."Elara picked it up, her eyes scanning the lines quickly. She let out a short, harsh laugh. "He is blaming Isabella for everythi

All Chapters of Too Late for Regret, Mr. Vale: Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25