Chapter 32

Evelyn met with Vincent at Thornfield Industries over the weekend.

"We need to open the safe as soon as possible," Vincent said, frustration lacing his voice. "Mr. Vaughn has been pressing for a decision. I don’t know whether to tell him the truth or stall—I have nothing to show him!"

Evelyn nodded, pulling a folded slip of paper from her pocket. "I wrote down some numbers last night. I think my father’s passcode might be a combination of these."

Vincent took the paper, scanning the digits before nodding. "Let’s try them now."

They entered the hidden chamber, approaching the imposing safe. One by one, they input the possible combinations.

Nothing worked.

After the tenth failed attempt, Evelyn exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. "Would Margaret know the code?" she mused. "The front door at home was set to their birthdays. He trusted her before he got sick."

Vincent scoffed. "If she knew what was inside, she would’ve taken it before she left."

Evelyn bit her lip. "Do you think someone else already emptied it?"

"Impossible," Vincent snapped. "I check the surveillance footage daily. No one but us has been in here."

She sighed. "Then what do we do if we can’t crack it? I can’t think of any other numbers."

Vincent paced, his expression darkening. "There’s one way—force it open. But that risks damaging whatever’s inside."

Evelyn hesitated.

"Give me another day to think," Vincent said. "If we can’t figure it out, we’ll have to take the risk."

She nodded, though unease flickered in her eyes.

"Evelyn," Vincent suddenly asked, suspicion creeping into his tone, "do you know Dominic Blackwood?"

Her pulse jumped. "No," she lied, shaking her head. "If I did, I’d have asked for his help already."

"Really?" Vincent arched a brow. "A friend saw you entering St. Elric District yesterday—where he lives."

Heat rushed to her cheeks. "Oh—that was just a friend. She lives nearby. We had something to discuss."

Vincent smirked. "Didn’t realize you ran in such elite circles."

"She used to be well-off," Evelyn said quickly. "Things changed."

"Right." He didn’t sound convinced. "Well, go ahead and leave. I’ll keep working on this."

"Thank you," she murmured before slipping out.

The moment the door closed behind her, Vincent studied the numbers she’d left behind, his jaw tightening.

How could the heir of Thornfield Industries not know this code?

His suspicion deepened.

Pulling out his phone, he texted Margaret, who called immediately.

"Richard left something behind?" she demanded.

Vincent smirked. "Did you really think he’d leave his daughter with nothing? Turns out you’re just as clueless as I thought."

Margaret’s voice sharpened with greed. "What did he leave her?"

"A safe. Massive. Priceless contents—but no passcode."

Vincent’s tone turned conspiratorial. "Help me crack it, and I’ll cut you in."

"How much?"

"Twenty percent." He chuckled. "Take it or leave it. It was never yours anyway."

Margaret hesitated only a second. "Deal. How many digits?"

"Six. I’ll send you the numbers Evelyn thought were significant—and the failed combinations. See if you can spot a pattern."