Chapter 853:

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A cold dread began to creep up Josephine’s spine.

“The men you’re looking for,” Gideon continued, his voice soft and conversational, “the leaders of the European syndicate… they are, in fact, my primary investors. My oldest and most valued business partners.”

Josephine stared at him. The world seemed to tilt on its axis. “What… what are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” Gideon said, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement, “that I have no intention of destroying them. Why would I? They are the source of my power. The foundation of my empire.”

He leaned his head back against the halo brace.

𝗙𝘪𝗇𝘥 𝘯𝗼𝘃e𝗅 𝗣𝗗𝗙𝗌 𝘰𝗻 ga𝗹ոо𝘷𝖾𝗹s.𝖼о𝗆

“I’m afraid I lied to you, my dear. There will be no revenge.”

The fire in Josephine’s belly turned to ice. The hope that had sustained her and justified her treason evaporated, leaving behind a black, gaping void of despair. She had betrayed her family, her blood, her nephew… for nothing. For a lie.

“You… monster,” she whispered, the words catching in her throat.

“I am a businessman,” Gideon corrected. “And you, Josephine, were a business asset. A very useful one. But your utility has now… expired.”

He steered his wheelchair to the window and looked out at the park.

“Don’t look so sad. Your information will be put to good use. Dallas will be neutralized. The Koch empire will fall. A new order will rise. And you… you will have had a front-row seat to history.”

He spun the chair back to face her, his expression a mask of pity.

“Security will show you out. Go home, Josephine. Grieve for your father. Grieve for your family. There is so much to grieve for.”

The door to the penthouse opened, but it was not Gideon’s security.

Eliza Koch walked in.

She was flanked by two women in sharp, dark suits. Eliza herself wore a charcoal gray coat, her face pale but her eyes burning with a cold, righteous fury. She did not look at Gideon. Her gaze was fixed entirely on Josephine.

Josephine gasped and stumbled to her feet. “Eliza… how…”

“Did you really think he would keep his promise?” Eliza asked, her voice quiet but carrying the weight of absolute condemnation. “Did you really think a snake would do anything but bite?”

She stopped a few feet from her aunt.

“I heard everything, Josephine. Every word. Every lie. Every piece of your betrayal.”

She held up her phone. On the screen, an audio file was playing, Gideon’s voice clear and mocking in the silent room. “…I’m afraid I lied to you, my dear. There will be no revenge.”

Gideon watched the scene unfold with detached, academic interest. He was not surprised. He was intrigued. He had underestimated Eliza’s own intelligence network, and this was a fascinating new wrinkle in the game.

Josephine’s face crumpled. A raw, animal sob tore from her throat, and she collapsed back onto the sofa, her body shaking with shame and grief.

“I’m sorry,” she wept. “Eliza, I’m so sorry. I just wanted… I wanted justice for my father…”

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Message from Noa: We’re in the final quarter of the year, my dear ones, hang in there! God loves you and Noa wishes you all the best. (ɔO‿=)ɔ ♥

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