Chapter 12

Charles's eyes blazed with determination as he confronted Daniela about Alex's betrayal. "You knew he was feeding me false information, didn't you?" he accused. Daniela's expression was calm, but Charles detected a flicker of guilt in her eyes. "I didn't know what he was doing," she said. "But I did pay him for his services." Charles's jaw clenched. "What services?" Daniela hesitated before answering. "I hired him to gather information about Scarlett's organization. I wanted to know what I was up against." Charles's eyes narrowed. "And what did you find out?" Daniela's expression turned grim. "I found out that Scarlett's organization is more powerful than I ever imagined. They'll stop at nothing to get what they want." Charles's gut twisted with a sense of foreboding. He knew that he and Daniela were in grave danger. Scarlett's organization would not hesitate to kill them if they got in the way. As Charles left Daniela's office, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being watched. He glanced over his shoulder but saw nothing. Little did he know, Scarlett's eyes were indeed on him, watching his every move. And she was not alone. As Charles walked out of the office building, he received a text message from an unknown number: "Meet me at the old mansion at midnight. Come alone. "Charles's heart skipped a beat as he read the message. He looked around cautiously, wondering if he was being watched. The streets were empty, except for a few stragglers hurrying to their destinations. Charles's mind was racing with possibilities. Could this be a trap set by Scarlett's organization? Or was it someone else entirely? He knew one thing for sure: he had to be careful. He couldn't trust anyone, not even Daniela. As he walked back to his car, Charles noticed a figure lurking in the shadows. It was a woman with piercing green eyes, her hair styled in a sleek bob. "Who are you?" Charles demanded, his heart pounding in his chest. The woman smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "My name is not important," she said. "What's important is that you meet me at the old mansion at midnight. "And with that, she turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Charles with more questions than answers.

 As Charles dug deeper into the case, he stumbled upon a shocking revelation. Diana's mother, the late Mrs. Regina Edwards, had been hiding secrets of her own.

Charles's eyes widened as he read through the documents. Mrs. Edwards had been involved with Scarlett's organization, using her wealth and influence to further their interests. But that wasn't all. Mrs. Edwards had also been embezzling funds from her own company, using the money to pay off her debts to Scarlett's organization. Charles's mind reeled as he processed the information. Diana's entire life had been built on lies and deceit. Her mother's legacy was not what it seemed.

 Diana's mother, Mrs. Regina Edwards, had been leading a double life. On the surface, she was a respected businesswoman and philanthropist. But beneath the façade, she was embroiled in a web of deceit and corruption.

As he delved deeper into the documents, Charles discovered that Mrs. Edwards had been using her company's funds to finance Scarlett's organization. She had also been using her influence to cover up Scarlett's crimes. Charles's mind reeled as he processed the information. He couldn't help but wonder what Diana would do if she found out the truth about her mother. Would she be able to forgive her, or would she be consumed by anger and betrayal? As the clock struck midnight, Charles made his way to the old mansion. The trees surrounding the mansion seemed to loom over him, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground. He approached the entrance, his heart pounding in his chest. Who was behind this mysterious meeting? And what did they want with him? As he stepped inside, he saw a figure waiting for him in the shadows. It was the woman with piercing green eyes, her hair styled in a sleek bob. "Welcome, Charles," she said, her voice low and husky. "I've been waiting for you. "Victoria's eyes locked onto Charles's, her gaze piercing. "I know what you're investigating," she said. "I know about Scarlett's organization and their connection to my sister, Regina. "Charles's eyes widened in surprise. "You know?" he repeated. Victoria nodded, a sad smile spreading across her face. "Yes, I know. And I've been trying to protect Diana from the truth for years." Charles's mind was racing with questions. "What do you mean?" he asked. Victoria took a deep breath before speaking. "Regina was involved with Scarlett's organization, just like you suspected. But what you don't know is that Regina was in deep. She was one of Scarlett's top lieutenants." Charles's eyes widened in shock. "No," he whispered. Victoria nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "Yes, Charles. My sister was a monster. And Diana...Diana is in grave danger. "Victoria, Diana's aunt, had been a silent observer of the events unfolding around her niece, even though she was working with Mr. Cruz to defeat Diana at all cost she still stood by her side. As Regina's sister, Victoria had always been aware of her sister's shady dealings, but she had never spoken out against her. However, after Regina's death, Victoria began to feel a sense of responsibility to protect Diana from the truth about her mother's past. She had been watching from the shadows, waiting for the right moment to intervene.