Vivienne sat in her hotel suite, her back straight, her eyes glued to the monitor as the storm of public outrage continued to grow. News outlets were picking up her leaks faster than she had anticipated, and the Rothsford family was scrambling to manage the fallout. But Vivienne didn't feel the rush of victory she had expected. She felt only a grim determination to keep pushing forward.
The Rothsford empire had been built on lies, and now it was crumbling. She could feel it—the cracks were widening, and every secret she uncovered, every detail she exposed, was a step closer to shattering it all. But the game was far from over. The Rothsford family would fight back, and when they did, they wouldn't hesitate to destroy her if they could.
Her phone buzzed again, interrupting her thoughts. It was a message from Mira.
"We've received intel. Holloway's trying to get his hands on something critical. It's locked away in an old vault at Rothsford Towers. We don't know exactly what it is, but it's big. We think it's related to your mother."
Vivienne's breath caught in her throat. She read the message again, her mind already racing with possibilities. If Holloway was trying to access something connected to her mother, it could be the key to everything. The truth she had been seeking for so long could be locked in that vault.
She stood up, her resolve hardening. She couldn't wait any longer. She had to act.
Rothsford Towers – Late Night
The towering skyscraper loomed above her, its windows glistening with a cold, artificial light. Vivienne's heart was pounding in her chest as she stood in the shadow of Rothsford Towers, staring up at the symbol of the family that had destroyed her life. But tonight, it wasn't a symbol of power—it was a target.
Rhys was already waiting by the side entrance, a bag of equipment in his hands. "Everything's set," he said, his voice low but steady.
Mira joined them moments later, her eyes sharp, her expression unreadable. "You ready for this?"
Vivienne nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. "Let's get what we came for."
They moved swiftly through the alley behind Rothsford Towers, blending into the shadows as they approached the security entrance. Rhys took the lead, his expert fingers working quickly to disable the security system. The lights flickered for a moment before the door clicked open.
Vivienne's pulse raced as they entered the building, moving through the darkened halls like shadows themselves. Their goal was simple: get to the vault, retrieve whatever was hidden there, and get out before anyone realized they were there.
But as they made their way through the building, Vivienne couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Her every step felt too loud, too deliberate. The walls of Rothsford Towers seemed to close in on her, reminding her of all the years she had spent within these walls, trapped in a gilded cage.
"Here," Rhys whispered, stopping in front of a reinforced steel door. "This is it. The vault."
Vivienne stepped forward, her hand resting lightly on the cool surface of the door. This was it. The moment she had been working toward. The key to finally ending the Rothsford legacy.
Mira moved to a nearby console and began working on the security system. "It'll take a minute," she murmured, her eyes scanning the screen. "We need to get in before anyone notices."
Vivienne glanced at Rhys, then at the vault door, her mind whirling. She didn't know exactly what she was looking for, but she knew it had to be important. The way Holloway was acting—so desperate to protect whatever was behind this door—told her that it was something crucial. Something that could either bring the Rothsfords down for good or save them from their impending downfall.
Finally, the console beeped, and Mira stepped back. The vault door slowly creaked open, revealing a darkened room filled with metal shelves and filing cabinets.
"This is it," Vivienne said, her voice a mix of awe and determination. "Let's find the truth."
Rothsford Towers – The Vault
The room was cold, sterile, and silent, except for the soft hum of the air conditioning. Vivienne moved swiftly, scanning the rows of cabinets, her eyes flicking from one shelf to the next. Papers. Files. Nothing of immediate interest. But then, in the far corner, she saw a small, unmarked chest.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She walked toward it, her steps quickening. The chest was made of dark wood, its surface polished to a gleaming finish. There was no lock on it—just a small latch. She lifted it carefully, her fingers trembling slightly, and inside, she found a stack of documents. Old, yellowed papers that looked like they hadn't been touched in years.
Her breath caught in her throat as she began to sift through the papers. There were bank statements. Property deeds. Correspondence between high-ranking officials. But at the very bottom, there was one file that caught her eye. It was labeled simply: "Project Rebirth."
Vivienne's hands froze as she read the words. She opened the file cautiously, her heart racing as she scanned the first page.
Project Rebirth was a covert operation, codenamed after a desire to create a new heir to the Rothsford legacy. The project involved a series of genetic and psychological tests, aimed at creating the perfect candidate to inherit Rothsford Holdings—someone who could ensure the family's empire remained intact, no matter what.
Vivienne's mind went blank as she read the next few lines.
It wasn't just about her.
The document detailed not just the creation of an heir—but the meticulous manipulation of her very existence. Her identity had been shaped and manipulated from the moment she was born. But there was more. Her mother had been part of this project. She had been selected for the role of the Rothsford surrogate, handpicked for her genetics, for her bloodline, her connection to the elite circles. But it wasn't just for her potential—it was for Vivienne, the child who would inherit everything.
Her entire life had been manipulated by the Rothsford family. Every step, every choice, every betrayal—it had all been orchestrated. And they hadn't just used her—they had created her.
Vivienne felt the ground shift beneath her. The revelation was too much to comprehend. The Rothsford empire wasn't just built on lies and money—it was built on control, on engineering a person to fit their vision of the future.
The room spun, her thoughts swirling in chaos. She could barely breathe. But there was no time for this. Not now. This—this was the weapon she needed.
She stood up, clutching the file tightly to her chest.
"We've got what we came for," she said, her voice a low whisper. "Let's go."