CHAPTER 70.
Carlos stood by the tall window of his house, the city lights sprawled out below like prey waiting to be hunted. His phone was still warm in his palm, Hemsworth's stammering voice replaying in his head.
He had expected William to dig into the matter—of course he would—but not this quickly. Sooner or later, William would come straight for him.
Lifting the phone again, Carlos dialed Donovan's number.
"Answer the call," he muttered under his breath.
"Yes," came Donovan's calm, soft voice.
"William is at it again," Carlos said.
"So?"
Carlos's tone sharpened. "What do you mean so? Sooner or later he'll get to the root of this, and when he does, both of us will be exposed."
"He won't find out."
"Oh, please. Hemsworth just called me—William has already threatened him. Do you really think Hemsworth won't crack under pressure?"
"Don't worry. I'll handle Hemsworth. You just focus on your part."
Carlos paused. "Have you spoken with the SE already?"
"Yeah. He's waiting for Howard's response."
"You really think Howard will play along? He was Jones's lawyer before he died. I doubt he'll stay quiet this time."
"If he refuses, we discard him."
Carlos's lips curved into a cold smile. "Good."
__
Ciara came out of the kitchen when she heard the doorbell. Wiping her hands on a towel, she made her way to the door and opened it—only to find Kate standing there, shopping bags dangling from both hands.
"Kate?" Ciara's voice held genuine surprise.
"Hello, Aunt." Kate lifted one hand in a small wave.
"How… how are you?"
"I'm fine, Aunt. May I come in?"
"Oh—of course, I'm sorry. Please, come in."
"You seem surprised to see me," Kate said, reading her expression.
"Well… yes. You hardly visit. And when you do, it's usually because you're upset—or here to accuse your uncle of something."
Kate let out a soft laugh. "My bad, Aunt. I was just being childish back then. I've missed you." She softened her face into a warm smile.
"Oh…" Ciara murmured, studying her as though something didn't quite add up.
"Is Uncle around?" Kate asked casually.
"Yes. I'll let him know you're here."
"Okay." Kate flashed an innocent smile and sank into the sofa, setting her bags neatly at her feet.
Shortly after, Ciara came back to the sitting room.
"Kate dear, your uncle is quite busy. You should go meet him in the study."
"No problem, I'll be right back." She winked at her and left for the study.
___
Kate got to the floor where the study was and took a deep breath before going in.
"To what do I owe the honor of this visit?." Carlos said without raising his head up from his laptop.
"Good afternoon uncle." She greeted in a sweet and warm voice, making Carlos look up.
Got you. She said in her head.
He studied her for a while, "what do you want Kate."
"Gosh! Uncle, what's up with the harsh word."
"I'm not being harsh Kate. Just asking what you want."
"Well, in my perspective you were harsh." She sat down on the chair opposite him.
"I'm sorry then. How are things going with you and your husband?" He stressed the last word.
"We are doing well." She replied simply.
"You came here to accuse me of something again right?"
"That's not it uncle. First, sorry for accusing you wrongly all this while. I was just blinded by keeping my parents company safe."
"Hmm…"
"I know you are after William's company and I'm ready to help you."
Carlos' hand paused over his laptop. "What are you saying?"
"C'mon uncle, you should know what I mean already. I want us to work together so we can bring him down and have it all to ourselves. After all you will be the boss over everything."
Carlos chuckled. "You don't know what you are saying Kate. You should go home."
"I'm being serious right now uncle…"
"Why do you want to do it?" Carlos cut her off.
Silence.
She was expecting this question and had prepared fully well for it.
She smiled.
Her smile was calculated, carrying just the right mixture of hurt and determination. She let the silence stretch for a moment, allowing Carlos to see her gathering herself, as if the question had struck a nerve.
"You really want to know?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked down at her hands, then back up at him with eyes that seemed to glisten with unshed tears. "Because he's been lying to me, Uncle Carlos. About everything."
Carlos leaned back in his leather chair, his expression unreadable but his attention clearly captured.
"The night I found out about the pregnancy," Kate continued, her voice gaining strength but maintaining its vulnerability, "I overheard him on a phone call. He was talking to someone about... about contingency plans. About what to do if I became 'too much of a liability.'"
She paused, letting her hand drift protectively to her stomach. "He doesn't want this baby, Uncle. He never did. He's been pretending, going through the motions."
"Hmm.."
"I've been so stupid, Uncle. So blind. I blamed you for their company failing, but William... he's been in my ear this whole time, making me suspicious of you, making me think you were the enemy when really..."
She let the sentence hang, watching Carlos's face carefully. She could see the wheels turning behind his eyes, the temptation of what she was offering warring with his natural suspicion.
"When did you have this revelation?" Carlos asked, his tone carefully neutral.
Kate had prepared for this too. "Three days ago. The same day that story broke about his supposed illegal activities. I think someone's finally exposing him for what he really is."
Carlos's fingers drummed against his desk, a habit Kate remembered from childhood whenever he was deep in thought.
"And you think I'm behind that story?"
Kate met his gaze directly.
Of course you are.
"I think you've been protecting me this whole time, and I was too proud and too hurt to see it."
The lie came so smoothly she almost believed it herself.
"So now you want revenge against your husband," Carlos said slowly.
"I want justice," Kate corrected. "And I want my child to be safe. If William is planning to abandon us anyway, why shouldn't I get there first? Why shouldn't I make sure he's the one left with nothing?"
Carlos stood up from his desk and moved to the window, his back to Kate. She held her breath, knowing this was the crucial moment. Everything depended on whether he believed her performance.
"What exactly are you proposing?" he asked without turning around.
Kate felt a surge of triumph but kept it from showing on her face. "I make sure he trusts me and gets access to everything. His personal files, his business accounts, his private communications." She paused for effect. "He has no idea that I know what he's planning."
Carlos turned back to face her, and she could see the calculating gleam in his eyes —the look he got whenever he spotted an opportunity.
"This is quite a change of heart, Kate."
"Pregnancy changes a woman's priorities," she said simply. "I can't afford to be sentimental anymore. I have to think about my child's future."
Carlos studied her for a long moment, then slowly returned to his desk. "What would you need from me?"
"I just need you to bring him down with every information I get you."
"That won't be a problem." He smiled.
You have just paved the way for me Kate. I can just use a stone to kill two birds. Carlos laughed within himself.
"But I need you to promise me one thing.,"
"What's that?"
"You must let me know all your moves from now on. Everything you are doing and will do towards this mission."
"Sure."
"That solves it then. I'll leave now."
"Take care of yourself and my grand niece."
"Niece?" she raised her brow.
"Yeah… I want a niece as beautiful as you are."
"Till then uncle."
Kate stood, smoothing her dress, but her eyes never left Carlos's. They both smiled — polite, measured — but neither smile reached their eyes.
As she walked toward the door, her heels clicked softly against the marble floor, each step echoing in the quiet study. She could feel his gaze burning into her back, weighing every word she'd spoken, every gesture she'd made.
Just as her hand touched the doorknob, Carlos spoke again, his voice calm but carrying an edge.
"Kate… remember, I always find out when someone lies to me."
She turned her head just enough to meet his eyes over her shoulder, her own voice sweet but steady.
"And I never lie, Uncle Carlos."