The city lights outside Lena’s office window had long since faded into the pale grey of dawn. She hadn’t slept. Not a wink. The conference room, where Anastasia had launched her venomous attack, felt miles away, yet the words still echoed in her ears, cold and sharp. Then came the call from the twins, a demand, a threat, a choice that had twisted her insides into knots.She sat at her desk, a half-empty mug of cold coffee beside her, the untouched spreadsheets on her tablet mocking her inability to focus. Her mind was a battlefield, two armies clashing, each side tearing at her loyalty, her sense of right and wrong.On one side was Max. Max, who had pulled her out of the wreckage of her old life, given her a home, a purpose, a family. He had trusted her with Becker Corp, given her a chance to prove herself, to build something real. He had promised to protect her. He had shown her a kindness she hadn't known existed outside of her mother's love. The Lucky family, for all its dark corne

The city was still a muted canvas of pre-dawn greys when Lena finally put the phone down. Her hand trembled, but her resolve, forged in the crucible of fear and loyalty, was surprisingly steady. The twins' chilling threat of "Plan B" – total annihilation of the Lucky empire, with Max at its head – had solidified her decision. She wouldn't betray Max. She wouldn't be the instrument of his downfall, or the downfall of the family who had taken her in. And she wouldn't be the one to unleash that kind of chaos on the world, even if it meant facing the twins' wrath."I won't do it," she whispered to the empty office, the words a vow. "I won't help them."But refusing them wasn't enough. They had promised to unleash hell if she didn't cooperate. She had to *stop* them. She had to foil their original plan – the exposure of Vincenzo – without them ever realizing she was the one doing it. She had to be an unseen shield.Her mind raced, sifting through the fragments of information she had about

The phone call from Tommy had been short, brutal, and to the point. Lena had chosen her side. Now, Anastasia’s turn was coming. She stood by the large window of her luxurious apartment, a glass of untouched sparkling water on the sill. The city lights twinkled below, a million tiny stars on a dark canvas. She was a star herself, in a way, shining bright in the Lucky family’s orbit, but her light was fueled by a secret, a lie so profound it twisted her gut every time she thought about it.“It’s time,” Tommy had said, his voice cold and sharp. “Lena made her choice. Now you make yours. Get ready.”Get ready. Ready for what? To blow up a family, a life she had carefully constructed? To reveal a truth that would destroy Vincenzo, yes, but also expose her own sordid past? She closed her eyes, and the memories, sharp and unwelcome, flooded back.*****A Sordid Past**It had started so innocently, or so she had thought. Vincenzo. He was charming, dangerous, everything her life with her late

The soft chime of her phone pulled Anastasia from a restless sleep. She glanced at the screen. Unknown number. She knew who it was. She answered, keeping her voice low.“It’s done,” a gruff voice said, no pleasantries. It was Tommy. “Max left an hour ago. He’s on his way to that summit in Geneva. Won’t be back for at least two days.”Anastasia’s heart hammered against her ribs. This was it. The moment she had dreaded, and yet, in a twisted way, anticipated. “Understood,” she replied, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hand.“My men will be in position by midnight,” Tommy continued. “You know what to do. The usual drop-off point for supplies. The old service entrance. Make sure it’s clear. And the security cameras in that hallway? They need to be… offline.”“They will be,” Anastasia promised. “Anything else?”“Just make sure Vincenzo is distracted. Keep him busy. The less he sees, the better. And remember our deal. Don’t mess this up.” The line went dead.Anastasia slowly lower

The grand Lucky mansion, usually a fortress of quiet power, felt different that evening. A strange hum of unease seemed to vibrate through its ancient stones. Max was still away, somewhere over the Atlantic, and his absence was a palpable void. Vincenzo, despite Anastasia’s best efforts to keep him distracted, had spent the day grumbling about missing paperwork and a general feeling of things being off.Anastasia watched him from across the dinner table, picking at her food. “You’re still worried about those files, aren’t you?” she asked, trying to sound concerned.Vincenzo sighed, pushing his plate away. “It’s not just the files, Anastasia. It’s a feeling. Like a storm brewing. I’ve been in this business too long not to trust my gut.” He looked around the dining room, at the heavy curtains, the polished marble. “Max being gone… it leaves us exposed.”Ronald, seated beside Sarah, cleared his throat. “We have plenty of men, Vincenzo. The perimeter is tight.”Sarah squeezed his hand und