Damien froze in his tracks, his heart hammering violently against his ribs as the men’s voices boomed behind him, sharp and unforgiving. The sound seemed to shake the walls themselves, echoing through the dimly lit den and lodging deep in his skull. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to keep moving, to drag Selena with him no matter the cost—but his legs refused to obey. It was as if the floor had claimed him, locking him in place.Selena clutched his arm tightly, her fingers digging into his sleeve. Her eyes were wide, reflecting the low lights of the room, filled with a mixture of fear, disbelief, and dawning realization. Her breathing came in short, shallow gasps as she struggled to understand what she was seeing. The sharp objects Damien had so confidently laid across the floor had failed utterly. The men were not writhing in pain. They were not screaming or collapsing. They were standing.Standing intact and alert.And far more dangerous than Damien had ever anticipated

Selena’s heart was pounding violently in her chest as the last of the men’s harsh warnings echoed in her ears, each word reverberating like a hammer strike against her skull. The sound seemed to linger, stretching the moment unbearably, until it became impossible to tell whether the noise was coming from the room or from inside her own head. Damien had already retreated, pulling away from her reach, choosing his own survival while the men who now towered over her held complete and unquestioned control. The realization cut deep and sharper than fear itself. The bag lay open on the floor between them, its contents spilled and exposed. Money, pearls, diamonds, and gold glinted under the dim lights, a grotesque display of wealth meant to purchase Damien’s life. What had once been his lifeline was now firmly in the men’s possession. They stood around it with greedy, satisfied smiles, their expressions filled with triumph and ownership. Selena’s stomach twisted painfully as she st

Selena’s body trembled as she leaned against the hospital wall, her left leg throbbing with unbearable pain. The searing ache radiated from the gunshot wound, each pulse sending shocks of agony through her entire body. She had managed, with sheer grit and desperation, to escape the grasp of Damien’s hired men after they had shot her, but the injury had left her practically crippled. Every movement reminded her of how close she had come to death, and how fragile her survival had been. The taxi driver who had rushed her to the hospital muttered under his breath, visibly irritated by the bloody mess she had brought into his car. His hands shook the wheel nervously, eyes darting to her as she clutched her blood-soaked leg and groaned with pain. Yet, despite his visible reluctance, Selena’s determination shone through. The fear and urgency in her gaze, the raw strength emanating from her battered body, forced him to take her seriously. With a terse nod, he drove with a focused inte

Charlotte stared at Selena, her brow furrowed deeply, her expression caught somewhere between curiosity and suspicion. The room felt unusually quiet, as though even the walls were listening. “Secrets?” she asked cautiously, her voice measured. “What do you mean by that, Selena? After everything you’ve already told me, you’re saying there are still secrets you want to reveal?”Selena nodded slowly, her movements tense. Her hands twisted nervously in her lap, fingers interlocking and separating as though she couldn’t keep them still. Her eyes darted briefly toward the door, then back to Charlotte. “Yes, Charlotte,” she said softly. “Secrets that I’ve kept hidden for a very long time. Things I was too afraid to say before. Things that could change how you see everything.” She swallowed hard. “But… I don’t think it’s right to tell you alone.”Charlotte’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What do you mean by that?”Selena lifted her gaze, her expression firm despite the fear beneath it. “I

The phone vibrated sharply in Selena’s hand, slicing through the tense quiet of the night like a blade. She had just stepped beneath a flickering streetlight, its weak glow pulsing above her and casting long, distorted shadows across the cracked pavement. The street was otherwise silent, the kind of silence that made every small sound feel amplified. When Selena glanced down at the screen, her jaw tightened instantly.It was Barbara.For a brief moment, Selena considered letting the call ring out. Her thumb hovered over the screen as her heart beat faster, not from fear, but from the weight of what she already knew this call would bring. Barbara never called without reason. And when she did, it was never to ask—it was to command. Selena exhaled slowly. Avoiding the call would solve nothing. If anything, it would only confirm Barbara’s suspicions and provoke something worse. Steeling herself, Selena answered.“Hello?” she said, keeping her voice cool and even, carefully masking