“The road isn’t yours.”
The blonde woman laughed.
“Oh, how bold. Seriously, Vic, tell her to move. Or I will.”
Victor was about to step out when the truck’s system rang. An international call lit up the dashboard. His face went pale.
“Answer it,” the woman said. “It’s probably about the city deal.”
He pressed the button.
“Mr. Hayes,” a voice said in accented English, “our board has reviewed the documents. There are inconsistencies. If you cannot provide the original signed waiver from the legal owner by midnight today, the agreement will be canceled. Legal action for fraud will follow. No extensions.”
The line went dead.
Silence filled the truck.
The woman turned slowly toward Victor. “What do they mean by fraud?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, his gaze shifted to Elena—no longer arrogant, but desperate.
Elena felt the folded papers hidden inside her shawl, stitched carefully against her chest. The real deeds. The land, the water, the mill—everything Victor believed he had taken.
“Get in,” he said, stepping out. “We’re settling this in town.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Yes, you are,” he snapped. “If you don’t sign, I’ll make sure you lose everything. Even those children when they’re born.”