Revenge amnesia upgraded to his brother novel Chapter 97

**The Goodbye That Never Reached You and My Life Chasing 97**

The night before the funeral loomed heavily over Paris, a blanket of despair that seemed to choke the very life out of the city. The air was thick, almost suffocating, as if the city itself mourned alongside me.

In stark contrast, my makeshift office beside the wreckage of the Thornbird studio blazed with an unforgiving, harsh light. It felt almost surreal, a glaring reminder of the chaos that surrounded us. My team and I were entrenched in the final throes of crafting an online donation plan. Numbers danced before my eyes, logistics sprawled across the table. Everything felt hollow, like a cruel joke played by fate.

Then, without warning, the door swung open with a force that startled me from my thoughts.

Sophie burst into the room, her complexion eerily pale, as if the very essence of life had drained from her. She clutched her tablet tightly, her knuckles white, as though it were a live wire threatening to shock her.

“Boss!” she exclaimed, her voice quivering with urgency. “You won’t believe this! It’s the Vega Group… their legal department just sent over a formal cooperation proposal!”

She thrust the device into my hands, her fingers shaking uncontrollably.

“They want exclusive agency rights for the ‘Unique’ series. A three-year buyout. All cash upfront.”

She inhaled sharply, her breath unsteady. “The offer… it’s one billion euros.”

The number lit up the screen, a dizzying cascade of zeros that seemed to mock me. It was a fortune, enough to secure a lifetime of comfort, perhaps even enough to destabilize an entire nation.

Yet, as my stomach churned, I realized that this wasn’t a golden opportunity—it was a trap, a carefully laid snare by Mateo.

He wasn’t investing in my brand; he was buying my future, locking me away in a gilded cage, turning me into his songbird.

In a moment of defiance, I grabbed my phone and dialed his number, my heart racing as it rang once before he answered.

“Nono,” his voice oozed through the speaker, smooth and laced with amusement. “Calling so soon? I must say, I’m touched.”

“I’m not signing this, Mateo,” I retorted, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

“Rejecting my generosity? Again?” He sighed, a sound dripping with feigned disappointment. “Thornbird needs to stand on its own feet. It cannot thrive off anyone’s hand, not even mine.”

“Your principles will lead you to ruin, little bird. But I respect your choice.” His tone shifted, becoming serious, almost ominous. “Eleanor’s patience is wearing thin, far thinner than mine. I hear she’s planning to unveil her ‘evidence’ at the funeral tomorrow—proof that Lucien conspired with terrorists. Once that hits the public, even if it’s fabricated, his reputation will be reduced to ashes. Utterly destroyed.”

That wicked, calculating old witch.

“My sources indicate that the forged documents are hidden in her private study, guarded by her most loyal butler.” Mateo’s voice dropped to a low, enticing whisper. “I can retrieve them for you. Before the funeral starts.”

“And what’s your price?” I asked, my heart racing with a mix of dread and intrigue.

“A dance. With me. Right there at the funeral, in front of everyone.”

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