Chapter 7

• The salt-laced wind whipped around them as they stood on the cliff overlooking the churning sea. Below, the waves crashed against the rocks with a relentless fury, mirroring the tempestuous emotions swirling within Rowan. He hadn't confided in Cleo about this before, this other driving force behind his actions. It wasn't just love that had brought him back into her life, not entirely. There was a darker current, a bitter tide of vengeance, pulling at him just as strongly.
• He turned to Cleo, the moonlight catching the sharp angles of his face, highlighting the tension etched into his jawline. The flickering light danced in his eyes, revealing a depth of emotion that she'd only glimpsed before. He hadn't intended to involve her in his personal war against Julian, but the unfolding events, the near-death experience in the restaurant, had forced his hand. Their shared trauma had forged a bond, a fragile alliance built on mutual pain and a shared desire for escape. But this other element, the desire for retribution, threatened to unravel everything.
• "There's something you need to know, Cleo," he began, his voice rough, barely a whisper against the roar of the ocean. He hesitated, struggling to find the right words to convey the complexity of his feelings, the turmoil raging within him. "It's not just about us, about getting you away from Julian."
• He took a deep breath, the cold night air stinging his lungs. "I… I want revenge," he confessed, the words raw and heavy with unspoken anger. "I want to make him pay for what he’s done to you, for all the years of suffering he inflicted."
• The admission hung between them, heavy with unspoken implications. Cleo's gaze softened, a mixture of understanding and concern flickering in her eyes. She had seen the rage simmering beneath his calm exterior, the simmering volcano of hatred burning under the surface of his quiet intensity. She had sensed it since the restaurant, felt it pulse in the steely grip of his hand as he'd shielded her from the gunfire. His controlled anger was as palpable as the sea air.
• "I understand," she replied, her voice barely audible above the wind. "Julian is… he's a monster. And what he did to you, all those years ago…" she trailed off, her voice laced with empathy and regret. "He took advantage of you." She thought back to those terrible years of Rowan’s struggle, the struggle she had witnessed, from afar. She remembered the silent, tortured look on his face during their brief encounters. She saw him trying so hard to stay afloat.
• Rowan nodded, the gesture confirming her thoughts. He continued, "He ruined my family, Cleo. He destroyed everything I held dear. He used his power and influence to crush my business, to isolate me, to make me question my own sanity. He took everything from me.” He flinched, as if a phantom pain still echoed from the injustices committed against him.
• He spoke of a relentless campaign, a slow, deliberate dismantling of his life. Julian Thorne, powerful and ruthless, had used his resources to systematically destroy Rowan’s business, driving him into financial ruin. He had also weaponized his considerable influence to sabotage Rowan’s reputation, slandering him publicly, painting him as an unreliable and untrustworthy individual. Julian had created a narrative that resonated throughout Rowan's former business circles, driving away potential clients and partners. Even personal relationships had fallen victim to the machinations of Julian Thorne. Close friends and family members, some coerced, others intimidated, had turned their backs on Rowan, leaving him feeling utterly isolated and alone.
• The memory of that dark time, the crushing weight of isolation, seemed to hit him again as he paused, his voice strained with suppressed rage. The pain hadn't lessened with time. Instead, it had festered, hardening into a cold, burning determination. He had sworn revenge, vowing to reclaim his life and reputation.