The line crackled softly before a low chuckle ca through.
"Well," the man drawled, amused. "If it isn’t Princess Olivia. To what do I owe this sudden honor?"
Olivia leaned back against the headboard with one leg crossed over the other.
"I need sothing." Her voice was calm and polished.
Another laugh, deeper this ti and mocking echoed from the other line.
"I thought the dockyard incident was the last favor you would ever need," he said lightly. "You do know how much trouble that ss caused, right?"
She didn’t respond but he continued anyway.
"Getting rid of a body isn’t exactly a walk in the park. My n had a hard ti cleaning that up."
A slow smirk curved Olivia’s lips.
"I am sure nothing is hard for you," she said smoothly. "Or your man, Jino."
There was a pause, then an approval ca almost imdiately.
"Well," the man said, pleased. "You are not wrong, darling."
His tone shifted, curiosity sharpening. "So. What is it this ti? Another body?"
Olivia’s smile faded.
"No," she said. "Not yet."
That got his attention.
"I want information," she continued. "Quiet, detailed and undeniable."
The man humd thoughtfully. "About?"
"Benjamin Reid," Olivia said.
The na hung heavy between them.
"Interesting," he murmured. "You already sleep in his house. What more do you want?"
"I want leverage," she replied coolly. "Sothing old, sothing buried, sothing he would burn the world to keep hidden."
Another pause followed, longer this ti.
"You are asking to dig into dangerous ground," the man said slowly. "Reid doesn’t make careless mistakes."
"No," Olivia agreed. "He makes permanent ones."
Silence followed
Then a low, satisfied laugh. "You always did know how to ask for the right things."
"I don’t need rumors," she added. "I need the truth with docunts, witnesses and trials."
"And what happens when I find it?" he asked.
Olivia’s eyes hardened. "Then Benjamin stops treating like an inconvenience," she said. "And start rembering why I survived this long."
The man exhaled softly. "You are playing a risky ga, Princess."
She didn’t deny it.
"I always have."
Another pause.
"I will see what I can dig up," he finally said. "But understand this, once you open this door, you don’t get to close it again."
Olivia smiled, slow and confident.
"I am not asking to close it," she said. "I am asking you to kick it open."
The call ended.
Olivia lowered the phone and stared at the dark ceiling with her pulse steady but mind already three moves ahead.
She would remind them all that she hadn’t survived twenty years by accident.
.....
[Carter Mansion]
The Carter mansion settled into its nightti rhythm.
Ursula had retired early, fatigue from travel finally catching up to her.
lissa excused herself soon after, ntioning she wanted to freshen up before bed, leaving the living room dimr and quieter.
Evelyn had just turned toward the staircase when Gregory spoke.
"Evelyn."
She paused and turned back. "Yes, Dad?"
He was still standing near the window with his hands clasped behind his back and gaze fixed outside as if he were gathering his thoughts.
"Sit for a minute," he said gently.
Sothing in his tone made her obey without question.
She sat across from him, folding her legs beneath her and watching him with calm patience.
"The Willowood land," Gregory began. "The one which was transferred to your na."
Evelyn nodded, "Yes, I rember."
He hesitated, then continued, "I have been approached again and this ti, it’s a serious offer and a very good deal."
Her brows knitted slightly. "A buyer?"
"Yes." He turned to face her fully now. "The price is good and more than fair. It’s enough to reinvest or buy another property outright. You can invest it in sothing safer and beneficial."
Evelyn listened quietly.
"What do you think I should do?" she asked after a mont.
Gregory studied her face carefully looking for hesitation, attachnt or resistance but he found none.
"I think," he said slowly, "that holding onto that land doesn’t make sense anymore. It’s remote. It doesn’t serve you and lately—" He exhaled. "I have had a feeling it might bring complications down the line."
She didn’t argue.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly and asked softly, "And you think selling it is the best decision?"
"Yes."
There was a pause then Evelyn nodded.
"Then let’s sell it."
Gregory blinked, just slightly. "You are sure?"
She smiled at him—easy, trusting. "Dad, if you think it’s right, I trust you."
"If you want to keep it—" he started.
She shook her head. "I don’t need it. Not if it’s just sitting there. Just tell where I have to sign."
The simplicity of it caught him off guard.
No second-guessing, no sentintality and no suspicion.
Gregory felt both relief and sothing else he couldn’t quite na.
"All right," he said quietly. "I will handle the rest."
Evelyn stood and leaned down, kissing his cheek. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
As she walked upstairs, Gregory remained where he was, staring out into the dark grounds beyond the glass.
He told himself it was the right choice and selling a piece of land was just business.
But what he didn’t yet realize was that he had just moved the final piece on a board he didn’t fully see.
....
[Reid Mansion—Benjamin’s Study]
Benjamin closed the door to his study and leaned back against it for a brief mont.
The house was finally quiet.
Family dinners exhausted him in a way boardrooms never did. Smiles held too long and conversations that demanded civility instead of strategy was exhausting.
Gregory Carter had been polite, asured and Benjamin had spent the entire evening reading what wasn’t being said.
He loosened his tie, rolled his shoulders once and moved toward the desk.
The lamp cast a warm pool of light over neatly stacked files. Everything was in its place, controlled and predictable just the way he liked it.
He had barely sat down when his phone vibrated.
It was an unknown number but he already knew.
Benjamin answered without hesitation. "Yes."
There was no small talk on the other end.
"It’s done," the voice said. "Gregory Carter agreed. The Willowood property will be sold and papers are being prepared.
....
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