DAMIEN'S POV
Victoria sent a letter from prison. It arrived on a Wednesday, forwarded through her lawyer. I stared at it for three days before opening it.
"You don't have to read it," Elara said.
"I know. But I think I need to."
The letter was two pages, handwritten. Her usually perfect script looked shaky.
“Damien,
I don't expect forgiveness. I don't deserve it. But I need you to understand why I did what I did.
When your father died, you were five. I promised myself I'd build something that would protect you forever. Hartley Enterprises became that promise. Every decision, every sacrifice, was about securing your future.
Then you started making your own choices. The divorce, the restructuring, all of it felt like you were destroying what I'd built to protect you. I panicked. I th
