Ulterior Motives

Camilla paced the wrecked bedroom like a caged panther, her bare feet kicking aside glittering shards of shattered perfume bottles and torn cosmetics. Her chest heaved with fury as she rounded on her mother. "I need to hire a professional hitman tonight. I will pay whatever sum it takes from our offshore accounts to eradicate Valerie for good."

Martha moved across the carpet and clamped both hands over her daughter's trembling shoulders, forcing her to halt. "Cami, use your head and think for a moment. Valerie pretended to be a drooling idiot for three whole years right under our noses. A person does not play brain-dead for that long without a terrifying reason. If you strike blindly now, you will walk straight into whatever lethal trap she set."

Camilla jerked away, knocking Martha's hands aside with a manic sneer. "I do not care about her hidden motives. She stripped me naked in front of high society and dragged our name through the gutter. I want her dead, Mom. I want her buried."

The bedroom door slammed open with a deafening crack, the wood splintering against the frame. Roland Vance surged into the room, his eyes rimmed with red veins and his tie pulled askew by raw financial terror.

Before Camilla could part her lips, a heavy palm cracked across her face.

The force of the blow spun her around, sending her crashing into the mahogany vanity. Camilla clutched her stinging cheek, tears spilling over the fresh welt as she stared at the man who struck her. "Dad!"

Roland advanced on her, shaking with rage as spit sprayed from his lips. "Do not call me your father! I spent years groveling to secure a partnership with the Thorne empire. Years of blood and sweat, all annihilated because my daughter acted like a shameless whore at a public gala! Pull yourself together right now. You are going to drag your pathetic carcass to the Thorne estate, drop to your knees, and beg that idiot Mrs. Thorne for mercy."

Camilla pulled herself upright against the vanity table, her stubborn pride flaring through the humiliation. "I would rather swallow broken glass than drop to my knees before that retard!"

Roland raised his calloused hand to strike her again.

The head housekeeper stumbled into the doorway, out of breath and clutching the jamb. "Sir! Mr. Tobias Thorne is at the front gates. He demands to see Ms. Camilla immediately."

Roland's hand paused in mid-air. "Tobias?"

In the city's elite circles, Declan Thorne was the untouchable heir apparent, a ruthless prodigy destined to command the entire family conglomerate. His younger brother, Tobias, was widely dismissed as a worthless playboy who squandered money on sports cars and women. Roland had never respected him. Yet, in the face of financial ruin, the sudden arrival of a Thorne carried the scent of an unexpected lifeline. If Tobias had come specifically for Camilla, the disaster could still be salvaged.

Roland lowered his arm and pointed toward the adjoining bathroom. "Wash the tear stains off your face, fix your hair, and get downstairs. Do not dare disappoint me again."

Downstairs, Roland hurried into the grand living room, wiping beads of cold sweat from his forehead as he plastered on a warm smile.

Tobias sat sprawled across the velvet sofa, his legs crossed comfortably while he toyed with a heavy gold ring on his pinky.

Roland bowed his head with sycophantic deference. "Mr. Tobias, please accept my deepest apologies for the disturbance my foolish daughter caused tonight. Camilla and I intend to visit Old Mr. Thorne tomorrow morning to beg for his understanding."

Tobias waved a dismissive hand, a relaxed smirk touching his lips. "Do not bother groveling, Mr. Vance. Miss Camilla was the true victim of that circus. Once my grandfather's temper cools off, I will handle him myself. I can easily talk him into reinstating your business contracts."

Roland looked up, astonished by the sudden promise of salvation. "Can I truly rely on your word regarding our partnership?"

"You have my word as a Thorne," Tobias promised.

Roland turned to the butler stationed near the archway. "Tell Camilla to hurry down. We must not keep our distinguished guest waiting a second longer."

Moments later, Camilla descended the curved staircase. She had always regarded Tobias as an obnoxious, shallow fool, yet the hope of reclaiming her standing drove her into the room.

The moment Tobias saw her, lust flashed across his features. He had harbored a fixation on Camilla ever since catching sight of her three years ago. When he noticed the bruised swelling on her cheek and her reddened eyes, his expression morphed into theatrical fury. "That brainless retard Valerie is to blame for everything that happened tonight. She deliberately ruined your gown, orchestrated the chaos, and made you suffer. Our family has no business keeping an idiot under our roof."

Camilla froze near the sofa, her gaze locking onto him with newfound intensity.

Martha entered carrying a crystal fruit platter, her eyes lighting up with eager calculation. "Does this mean you believe our Cami over your sister-in-law, Mr. Tobias?"

Tobias let out a dismissive laugh. "Why would any sane person take the word of a drooling retard over someone as lovely as Camilla? Put your faith in me, Cami. I swear I will make that brainless freak pay in blood for humiliating you."

A cruel glint settled in his eyes as he held Camilla's gaze.

Beneath his chivalrous facade, a venomous bitterness gnawed at his gut. Tobias loathed Declan with every fiber of his being. Declan possessed the brilliance, the respect, and the iron grip on the family fortune, leaving Tobias trapped in a powerless executive seat like a decorative pet. Tobias lacked the strength to attack Declan directly in the boardroom, but Declan's defective wife was utterly defenseless.

Tearing Valerie to pieces would deliver the ultimate strike against his brother's untouchable pride.