Chapter 45
Victoria sat on the plush couch in Zayden’s living room, sipping a cup of chamomile tea while Zayden brought over a bowl of fresh-cut fruit. He placed it in front of her with a small, satisfied smile, taking a seat beside her. His attentiveness wasn’t new, but it still warmed her heart every time.
“You’re spoiling me,” Victoria teased, picking up a slice of mango. “I could’ve gotten it myself, you know.”
“I’m not taking any chances,” Zayden replied with a grin, leaning back into the couch. “You’ve got a little girl in there, and I’ve got to make sure she’s taken care of.”
Victoria looked down at her growing belly, a soft smile tugging at her lips. The baby bump was undeniable now, a constant reminder of the life growing inside her. She rested her hand on it, her heart swelling with gratitude. Zayden wasn’t the biological father, but he had stepped into the role seamlessly, with a level of care and devotion that amazed her.
“Zayden,” she began softly, her voice tinged with emotion, “you’re going above and beyond. You’ve been more of a father already than…” She trailed off, unwilling to say Damian’s name aloud.
Zayden reached over, gently covering her hand with his. “You don’t have to say it. I know. And for what it’s worth, I don’t see it as going above and beyond. I see it as doing what needs to be done—for both of you.”
Victoria blinked back tears, overwhelmed by his kindness. “You’re incredible, you know that?”
“I try,” Zayden said with a playful smirk, though his sincerity shone through. “Now, eat your fruit. Doctor’s orders.”
She laughed, popping a slice of pineapple into her mouth. It was moments like these that made her realize just how right she’d been to let Zayden into her life. He might not be the baby’s biological father, but in every way that mattered, he was already filling that role.
A few days later, Victoria found herself back at the hospital, sitting across from Gregory. He looked much better now, the color returning to his cheeks and his frame slowly filling out. The haunted look in his eyes had diminished, replaced by a determined focus as he began to unravel the web of deceit surrounding Damian and Selena.
“Alright, Gregory,” Victoria said, leaning forward slightly. “You said you’ve been going through the records. What did you find?”
Gregory nodded, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I’ve confirmed most of what we suspected—embezzlement, fraudulent contracts, money being funneled into offshore accounts. Damian and Selena orchestrated most of it, but…” He hesitated, his brows furrowing.
“But?” Victoria pressed, her heart racing.
“There’s someone else,” Gregory said, his voice dropping. “Someone who was pulling strings behind the scenes. They went by the nickname ‘Xanos.’”
“Xanos?” Victoria repeated, the unfamiliar name sending a chill down her spine. “Who is that?”
Gregory shook his head. “I don’t know. All I’ve been able to find are references to the name in encrypted communications. Whoever they are, they’re careful. They didn’t leave much of a trail.”
Tobias, who was leaning against the wall, straightened at the mention of the name. “So you’re saying Damian and Selena weren’t the masterminds?”
“Not entirely,” Gregory clarified. “They were definitely major players, but Xanos… Xanos is the one who made everything possible. They coordinated the offshore accounts, the shell companies—it all traces back to them.”
Victoria’s mind raced as she tried to piece it all together. “Do you think Damian or Selena knows who Xanos is?”
“It’s possible,” Gregory said, nodding. “But they wouldn’t give up that kind of information easily. Xanos was their safety net. If anything went wrong, Xanos was supposed to clean up the mess.”
Tobias crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “So, Xanos is the puppet master, and Damian and Selena were just the puppets.”
“That’s one way to look at it,” Gregory agreed. “But Xanos isn’t invincible. There are cracks in their operation. If we dig deep enough, we’ll find them.”
Victoria leaned back, her hands resting on her belly as she processed the information. “We need to act fast. If Xanos realizes we’re onto them, they’ll try to disappear.”
“Agreed,” Tobias said, his tone firm. “We need to use what Gregory knows to start pulling those threads.”
Gregory hesitated, his gaze flickering to Victoria. “You’re putting yourself in danger, Ms. Cross. If Xanos finds out you’re investigating them…”
Victoria cut him off with a determined look. “I’ve already faced Damian and Selena. I’m not stopping now—not when we’re this close to uncovering the truth.”
Zayden, who had been sitting quietly by the door, finally spoke. “If you’re doing this, you’re not doing it alone,” he said, his voice steady and resolute. “Whatever you need, I’m here.”
Victoria smiled at him, her heart swelling. “I know, Zayden. Thank you.”
Gregory cleared his throat, pulling their attention back to him. “There’s one more thing,” he said, reaching into his folder. “I found this in one of Damian’s private emails.” He handed Victoria a printed sheet, and her eyes scanned the lines.
Her stomach churned as she read the cryptic message:
“Xanos expects results. No loose ends.”
Victoria handed the sheet to Tobias, her jaw tightening. “No loose ends,” she echoed. “That means Xanos isn’t done.”
Tobias nodded grimly. “If Xanos is still active, they’ll try to cover their tracks. And we’re running out of time to stop them.”
Victoria straightened, her resolve hardening. “Then we don’t wait. We take the fight to them.”
Gregory’s voice wavered as he spoke. “Be careful, Ms. Cross. Xanos is dangerous.”
“So am I,” Victoria replied, her voice steely. She glanced at Zayden, who nodded in silent support, and then at Tobias. “Let’s find Xanos.”
