Chapter 10

In a flash, Jocelyn’s smug face popped into his mind. If the hidden camera could be explained away, this video was smoking-gun proof of her betrayal! He had no clue how to explain this to his father. No way to silence the judgments echoing through the wedding hall. A tidal wave of emotions crashed over him as he ended the call. Then he dialed Jocelyn directly.

“Lorian, finally calling me back?” Her voice dripped with false sweetness.

“The wedding video—you played it, didn’t you?”

Jocelyn giggled, sounding pleased with herself.

“Well, yeah! I saw you chickening out, so I gave you a little push. You’ve been planning this for six whole years—no turning back now. I did it for your own good.”

Rage surged through him, making his entire body shake.

“I TOLD you, Lancelot family business is NOT yours to mess with!”

“Even if revenge was needed, that was between me and Sylvia. Who the hell do you think you are? What gives you the right to decide what’s ‘for my own good’? This was never about helping me—this was all about you!”

“I know exactly what you said to Sylvia that night. I didn’t call you out then to spare your precious feelings. Since you’ve decided to throw away any decency, don’t blame me for what happens next.”

He hung up and immediately texted his assistant. Within a week, the Collins family would be completely bankrupt.

Just as he powered off his phone, his father and Sylvia’s mother walked in. He dropped to his knees before them, slapping himself repeatedly across the face until his cheeks burned.

“I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I’m the one who destroyed Sylvia.”

“I thought… I believed Auntie had come between you and Mom. I… never meant for this to happen.”

19:33 The Black Swan’s Final Revenge Pirouette: The 99th G Wa All Alogg. 48.9%

Chapter 10

His father, blind with fury, kicked him hard in the chest.

“You complete idiot! Your mother divorced me because she had terminal cancer—there was never any affair!”

“She insisted on living her final months on her own terms. I begged her to try treatment, but she refused—afraid you couldn’t handle watching her suffer. I’ve kept this from you all this time.”

“Your aunt only came into my life after your mother passed away. What did she do wrong? What did Sylvia ever do to deserve this?”

His father had never told him any of this before. Lorian had always believed Sylvia’s mother had stolen his mom’s place and caused her death. He never imagined his mother had chosen to leave them both behind. Crushing guilt and regret made every breath painful. His lips trembled, but words failed him completely.

After a long silence, his father slapped divorce papers onto the table.

“You can say whatever you want, but these six years—I refuse to believe you felt nothing real for her.”

Lorian understood—this divorce was to protect Sylvia, to clean up the mess he’d made. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to beg them to stay. As the architect of this tragedy, he had no right to ask for anything. He knelt at the doorstep for twenty-four hours straight.

When he learned Sylvia’s mother had left the country, he immediately booked a flight and followed. Abroad, he found Sylvia—miraculously alive after the “accident.” They sat on park swings, gently swaying back and forth. He fought down the urge to run to her. Hidden in the shadows, he caught fragments of their conversation.

“Sylvia, sweetie…” her mother’s voice was gentle on the swing beside her.

“I know you still have feelings for Lorian. I’ve already signed the divorce papers with Mr. Lancelot. If you can’t move past this—if he’s really what you want—maybe you could…”

“Mom, stop.” Sylvia’s voice was soft but firm as she pushed her swing to a halt. “That chapter’s closed. It’s done.”

A small smile touched her lips. “Thanks for not telling him I’m alive. That was the right call.”

“I’m so sorry, dear. It’s me dragged you into this whole mess.”

They fell into each other’s arms, tears flowing freely as they held each other tight. From the shadows, Lorian watched them, his heart breaking all over again. He backed away silently.

Before leaving, he opened a new account and typed a single message to Sylvia:

“Find the happiness you deserve. I hope it’s everything I couldn’t give you. Love always, your brother.”

He stared at the screen until “Read” appeared beneath his words. Then, with nothing left to say, he boarded his flight home, leaving her to the peace she’d finally found.

19:33 The Black Swan’s Final Revenge Pirouette: The 99th G All Alo 49.1%

Chapter 10