Chapter 7
Bianca’s POV
Listening to their bits of gossip, I could already imagine the lengths Tristan had gone to trying to find me. Curiosity got the better of me, so I pulled out my phone and typed his name into the search bar. As soon as I typed “Tristan,” a whole list of news articles popped up–every one of them somehow about me.
Turns out, he’d pulled his investments. from a jewelry company called GemWise and aired Sabrina’s dirty laundry for the world to see, ruining her reputation
completely. He‘ d also funded a security company and sent over fifty planes. scouring the world to track me down. And, if that wasn’t enough, he‘ d even gone as far as declaring he‘ d transfer all his shares in the Thompson Group to me, hoping it’d bring me back to him.
But none of that mattered to me anymore.
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All I wanted was a life in peace, far away from him and his mess.
It was clear from the look on Tristan’s face as he left Russell’s office that their conversation hadn’t gone well. I heard him snap, “Within three days, I want this designer’s work off the shelves, and I expect a public apology. If not, I’ll bankrupt this company.”
Even so, Russell didn’t flinch. He raised an eyebrow, calm as ever. “You‘ re a bold one, Mr. Thompson,” he said. “But don’t forget–you‘ re in Germany, and the Blake family doesn‘ t scare that easy.”
Just as Tristan turned to leave, Russell couldn’t resist one last jab. “If you loved your wife so much, Mr. Thompson, why has she been missing for three years and. still hasn’t come home?”
Tristan didn’t say a word, but his glare was fierce enough to send a message. Russell, on the other hand, just gave a smug smile, clearly pleased with himself.
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Even though it had been a short exchange, I knew this wouldn’t end unless I did something. So, after Tristan left, I went straight to Russell’s office and knocked.
He looked up, giving me a gentle smile.
“Don’t worry, Maisie. I know you didn’t plagiarize.”
But I’d had enough of these tangled ties to Tristan. “Mr. Blake,” I said, taking a breath, “I’m here to resign.”
His smile froze, and he studied me carefully. “Maisie…who are you, really?”
Russell was no fool. With Tristan’s grand search for me out in the open, he must‘ ve pieced things together by now. So, I laid it. all out. “I’m the one Tristan has been
searching for all this time. So, I think it would be best if I left, Mr. Blake.”
A flicker of surprise crossed his face. “I did a background check on you when you joined, and nothing suspicious came up.”
I smiled a little. A top–tier identity agency
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wouldn’t leave anything traceable behind, and so they hadn’t. But it was time for me to go, or Tristan would eventually catch up.
to me.
Russell’s gaze sharpened. “Whether you‘ re Bianca Skinner or Maisie Gardner, you’re with me now. If you don’t want to go, then no one’s taking you away.” He gave me a firm nod. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle this.”
When I first arrived in Germany–alone, my wallet stolen, nowhere to go–it was Russell who’d helped me find my feet. Seeing him now, standing his ground, I couldn’t bring myself to argue.
Still, to keep out of sight, I arranged for two weeks‘ leave. That day after work, Russell walked over to me. “Let me drive you home,” he offered. With all the fuss.
Tristan had caused, I figured it was best to play it safe, so I agreed.
As we reached the front entrance, Russell said, “Wait here–I‘ ll bring the car
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around.”
I stood by the roadside, waiting, when suddenly, I heard a voice behind me.
It was Tristan.
