Chapter 82

"Hand it over!"

Leonard Kingsley snatched the manila envelope, his fingers shaking with barely contained emotion as he pulled out the legal documents inside.

The crisp pages held a newly granted appeal verdict—one that meant everything to him.

Only Vivian Lockhart understood the true significance of this moment.

After what felt like an eternity, Leonard finally tore his gaze from the papers.

His sharp eyes glistened faintly as they locked onto Vivian. "Come with me."

Gasps rippled through the room as the young woman was granted a private audience with the formidable chairman of Kingsley Holdings.

Inside the lavish private suite, Leonard's composure cracked.

"It's overturned. After all these years... it's finally overturned." His voice was rough with emotion. "Five years... I've waited five damn years for this."

He kept rereading the verdict, as if expecting the words to change.

Vivian watched him, reminded painfully of her own father. "Justice always finds its way," she said softly. "I'm certain Natalie can feel your love from heaven."

Leonard's head snapped up, his gaze suddenly razor-sharp. "How did you know about this? And how the hell did you reopen a closed case?"

"Because I wanted to understand the man I hope to call my partner." Vivian met his stare unflinchingly. "The world knows Leonard Kingsley dotes on Isabella Thornton. But few know about Natalie Chase—your other daughter in that northern town."

"Natalie was two years older. More beautiful. More talented." Vivian continued quietly. "But fate dealt her a very different hand than Isabella."

Leonard's stern features softened with grief.

"Yes," he admitted hoarsely. "She was... extraordinary. If she hadn't been so damn considerate of my reputation—" His voice broke.

Vivian stayed silent, watching the powerful man crumble.

However flawed his past actions, his remorse was real. His love—undeniable.

The most heartbreaking love of all—a father mourning his lost child.

Leonard composed himself with visible effort, carefully replacing the documents.

"Overturning a five-year-old verdict... this couldn't have been easy." His voice steadied. "But at least now... her name is cleared."

His gaze turned assessing. "This gift strikes straight to the heart. So tell me—what do you really want?"

Vivian smiled, producing a contract and pen. "Exactly what I said—to be your most trusted partner. Specifically, I want Kingsley Holdings as Lockhart Enterprises' primary investor and distributor for the next five years."

Leonard actually laughed. "You're small but ambitious. In all of Newport City, only Blackwood Group could make that demand."

"In five years," Vivian countered smoothly, "Lockhart Enterprises will be more qualified than Blackwood Group to make it."

"Oh?" Leonard's eyebrow arched.

The bold claim should have sounded arrogant. From her lips, it simply sounded inevitable.

"You're Nathaniel Blackwood's wife, yet here you are negotiating for Lockhart Enterprises." His lips quirked. "Interesting."

Vivian pressed her advantage. "So, Mr. Kingsley? Will you take the gamble?"

A shrill voice cut through the moment.

"Move! I need to see him now!"