My Ambition 23

Chapter 6 

Caleb burst in with his people. 

He saw me on the floor, saw the insane footage on the screen. 

His face went dark, eyes burning with anger. 

“Caleb!” 

Rex didn’t look surprised-actually smiled. “Here to see how pathetic your little dog looks?” 

Caleb ignored him, walked straight to me, took off his jacket and put it around my shoulders. 

“Mr. Donovan,” his voice was ice-cold, “you touched my business partner. That’s touching my money.” 

“I really hate losing money.” 

His people quickly handled Rex’s bodyguards and turned off the screen. 

This is between me and her. What gives you the right to interfere?” 

Rex stood up, eyes full of venom. 

‘Because she’s my partner now.” 

Caleb’s tone was flat as stone. 

Rex’s eyes went wide, jealousy and rage practically shooting flames. 

‘Fine, just FINE.” 

He was grinding his teeth. “Maddie, you’re something else.” 

‘We’ll see about this.” 

Then he left with his people, totally humiliated. 

The mansion went quiet. 

Caleb looked at me, frowning. 

You okay?” 

‘I’ll live.” 

I pulled his jacket tighter, voice hoarse. 

“Thanks.” 

“I’m not helping you,” he said coldly. “I’m protecting my investment.” 

“My people were tailing you, but Rex’s trap was too well-hidden and vicious. He knew you’d risk everything for your parents’ stuff, By the time my guys realized something was wrong, it was almost too late.” 

Your brother’s company has to be saved for our plan to work. I’ll handle the tax situation.” 

I looked at him, but inside I felt ice-cold clarity. 

Caleb, you think saving me makes me your chess piece? 

Hell no. I’m just gonna get stronger-strong enough that nobody can ever treat me like anyone’s accessory again! 

Why?” 

No reason,” he looked away. “I told you-you’re valuable.” 

Now tell me where Sophie is.” 

gave him an address in Switzerland. 

le nodded and turned to leave. 

Caleb.” I stopped him. 

le froze but didn’t turn around. 

Rex won’t let this go.” I said, “He’s gotta have something else up his sleeve.” 

ast time, Rex bounced back so fast because he had this mysterious overseas group backing him. 

he person controlling that group was always a mystery. 

I know.” 

hat’s all Caleb said before he left. 

stood alone in that empty room, feeling completely drained. 

his war with Rex had reached the boiling point. 

We were both gambling on who could find the other’s weak spot first. 

aleb worked fast. 

week later, he brought Sophie back to the States. 

Ve met at a coffee shop. 

ophie was gorgeous-blonde, blue eyes, tall, with this sad look in her eyes. 

When she saw me, her expression got complicated. 

You’re Maddie?” 

nodded. 

‘Mr. Steele filled me in.” 

Caleb had obviously put enough pressure on her to make her see reality. 

Chapter & 

She pulled a USB drive from her purse and put it on the table. 

“Everything’s on here-all of Rex’s offshore assets, plus his financial records with that group.” 

“Enough to destroy him completely.” 

I stared at that tiny drive, knowing it was our final ace. 

“Why are you helping us?” I asked. 

Sophie smiled bitterly. 

‘I don’t want my son having a criminal for a father.” 

‘Plus, Rex promised he’d marry me, but he lied.” 

‘He was just using me the whole time.” 

Another woman Rex had screwed over. 

I suddenly felt kind of sad about it all. 

‘Now that you’ve got what you need, what’s the plan?” Sophie asked. 

Caleb looked at me. 

thought for a minute. 

‘Still not enough,” I said. “Rex is paranoid as hell. If we just release this stuff, he’ll claim we faked it.” 

We need the right moment-something that’ll make him confess everything himself.” 

What kind of moment?” 

My eyes went to Sophie’s belly. 

She instinctively protected her stomach. 

You’re pregnant?” I asked. 

She nodded. 

Six months.” 

A plan started forming in my head. 

‘Rex’s mom, Patricia-next Wednesday is her sixtieth birthday.” 

‘She’s been dying for a grandkid. If she finds out about you and the baby, what do you think happens?” 

Caleb and Sophie immediately got what I meant. 

Patricia was controlling as hell and totally old-school about family. 

She’d never liked Rex’s college girlfriend because the girl came from nothing and probably couldn’t give the Donovan family an heir. 

If she found out the only Donovan bloodline was in some foreign woman’s hands, she’d do anything to get that baby back. 

The Donovan family would tear itself apart from the inside. 

And we’d just sit back and watch, then throw gas on the fire at the right moment. 

“That’s way too risky,” Sophie hesitated. 

‘High risk, high reward,” I looked at her. “You want your kid living in the shadows forever, carrying the bastard label?” 

Sophie went quiet. 

After a long pause, she looked up with determination in her eyes. 

Okay, I’m in.” 

The day of the birthday party, the Donovan estate was packed. 

Rex was the star of the show as the only son, looking perfect in his white suit like nothing had happened. 

He was chatting with some business big shots when suddenly the ballroom doors opened. 

Sophie walked in wearing a black dress, with Caleb beside her. 

Her obviously pregnant belly caught every light in the room. 

All eyes locked onto her instantly. 

The whole ballroom went dead silent. 

Rex’s smile froze on his face.