Page 66 of The Billionaire's Vow

“No?”Her voice was ice now.“Then why did you let it happen?”

He shook his head, desperation creeping into his eyes.“You don’t get it.Elliot—he was losing control, and I—” He stopped, jaw tightening.“I didn’t know how to stop him.”

Giselle’s chest burned with something close to rage.“You could have stopped him bynot being a coward,” she spat.

Craig recoiled.“That’s not fair—”

She exhaled harshly, forcing herself to stand.Her legs felt shaky, but her resolve was steady.

“You know what’s not fair?”she asked, her voice eerily calm.“That I spent my entire life fighting for you, only for you to throw me to the wolves the moment it was convenient.”

She reached into her bag and pulled out a folded document, sliding it across the table.

Craig stared at it, wary.“What’s that?”

“My statement,” she said flatly.“I already gave it to the detectives.”

Craig went still.

She met his wide, panicked eyes with quiet certainty.“I told them everything I knew.”

His breath hitched.“You—you wouldn’t.”

She straightened.“I did.I’ve spent the last month digging through the financial data.I gave the detectives everything I discovered.”

He shook his head wildly.“Zelly, you don’t understand what you’re doing.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line.“No, Craig.Youdon’t understand whatyou’vedone.”

For the first time, real fear flickered in his eyes.She stood and turned toward the door, her fingers reaching for the handle.Craig lurched forward as far as his cuffs would allow, his voice raw and desperate.“Giselle,please—”

She turned the handle.

And she walked out.

She didn’t look back.

And for the first time in her life—she didn’t feel guilty about it.

Chapter 27

Thewarmscentofgarlic and herbs permeated Dimitri’s penthouse, wrapping around Giselle like a comforting embrace.The soft clink of dishes and the low hum of music playing through the sound system made the vast space feel intimate, safe.

She curled her legs up on the plush leather sofa, letting her head lean back against the cushion.Across the room, Dimitri was in the kitchen, plating the pasta he had made from scratch, his broad shoulders moving with effortless precision.

It should have been a perfect evening.But then her phone rang.She exhaled slowly, her pulse steady, but her patience was already frayed.She could just let it go to voicemail.She could pretend she hadn’t seen it.But she was tired of pretending.

She stood up and answered the call.“Hello?”

“Giselle!”her mother’s voice was sharp with exasperation.“Why haven’t you been answering?We’ve been calling you all day.”

Giselle pinched the bridge of her nose.“I’ve been busy.”

“Well, weneedyou,” her father cut in, his voice gruff with irritation.“Your mother’s credit card bill is overdue, and we can’t afford the late fees.You need to cover it.”

Of course they did.

“And I need some cash, too,” her father added.“Just a little.Nothing big.Just enough to get through the week.”