Mason’s Version of Love
Chapter 09 - Mason’s Version of Love
Mason requested one meeting with Victoria.
They sat across reinforced glass at the detention center.
He looked at her bare neck.
“Where is the Astra?”
“Evidence.”
“It belongs to our family.”
“No. It belongs to the trust protector.”
He smiled faintly.
“You sound like Mother.”
The insult no longer worked.
Victoria asked when he decided to use Blue Veil.
“When you became popular enough that lenders believed the brand.”
“Was our engagement part of the plan?”
“No.”
“When did it become useful?”
“About six months later.”
Their relationship had begun at a charity auction. Mason admired Victoria’s ability to turn attention into money. She admired his family name and private confidence.
Neither entered without ambition.
Love grew inside motives that were not pure.
Mason described the resort debt.
He believed he could repair it if given enough time. Claire’s disclosure would have collapsed the company. Hiding her prevented panic. Using the pension fund preserved jobs until Azure Coast became profitable.
Every crime became temporary protection in his language.
“Did you plan to blame me?” Victoria asked.
He looked away.
“The documents made you responsible if the transfer failed.”
“That is yes.”
“You would have kept the estate.”
“And I would have gone to prison.”
“It would not have reached that point.”
It already had.
Mason asked whether she ever loved him or only wanted the diamond.
Victoria considered lying.
“I loved the version of you that made my ambition feel like destiny instead of hunger.”
“And me?”
“You loved how easily I could be displayed.”
He pressed one hand against the glass.
“We can still protect each other.”
The word protect had become a threat.
Victoria stood.
“No.”
He struck the glass once.
A guard entered.
Victoria did not flinch.
May you like
The marriage license had never been filed because Mason planned to complete it after the asset transfer. Legally, their ceremony created no marriage.
She had become a bride, company director, and potential scapegoat in one day—without becoming his wife.
