Amber’s heels hit the marble before Xavier even finished his sentence. A sound that told the room she had heard enough even before stepping inside.Antonio turned slightly as she entered the atrium, but Amber didn’t spare him a glance at first. She looked at Xavier directly like she was confirming something she already knew.Then she finally faced Antonio.Her expression didn’t hold anger. It held precision. A different kind of heat—controlled, intelligent, dangerous.“Good,” Amber said, adjusting the sleeve of her robe like she had walked into a board meeting, not a standoff. “You’re still here. Saves me the trouble of dragging you back.”Antonio straightened. “I didn’t come here for you.”“And yet,” Amber replied, “you’re on my property.”“That wasn’t your problem ten minutes ago,” Antonio snapped. “I just want to see my daughter.”Amber tilted her head. “And I want a world without incompetent men. Look how life disappoints us both.”Antonio’s jaw locked. “Don’t start with—”“I’m no

Antonio had barely gotten the first sentence out before Celeste’s patience finally snapped.“Before New York?” she repeated, her voice shaking with the kind of anger that had been building since the instant her passport was flagged in Heathrow. “You’re starting from ‘before New York’ when I’ve been dragged across borders, detained, questioned, embarrassed, and now told to stand outside like a stray?”Amber’s lips curved. Not kindly. “If the shoe fits.”Celeste turned slowly toward her.Xavier muttered, “Amber—”“Don’t ‘Amber’ me,” she cut in, eyes fixed on Celeste. “I’ve watched this woman circle Antonio like a shadow for months. Every time trouble touches him, somehow she’s in the picture. You want me to act blind now?”Celeste didn’t laugh—she scoffed. “You think I enjoy being anywhere near him? You think I flew across the world because I like being part of your little drama-filled circle?”“This is not a circle,” Amber said sharply. “This is my estate. My security. My responsibilit

The courtyard of Amber’s estate was no longer just tense — it was vibrating with a dangerous electricity that made even the guards keep their hands hovering near their weapons. The echo of Celeste’s voice still lingered in the air, sharp and acidic, and the look on Amber’s face as she stood at the top of the stone steps was the quiet promise of war.Xavier did not move. He stood planted between both women, jaw locked, eyes scanning the estate’s perimeter like he was calculating a thousand risks at once. He didn’t like scenes. He didn’t tolerate ambushes. And he definitely wasn’t going to let a loose-mouthed outsider start a fire on territory he’d sworn to keep safe.Antonio took one slow step forward. “Celeste,” he growled under his breath, “get back in the car—”“Don’t you dare talk to me like I’m the problem,” she hissed, throwing him a glare. “I warned you this was a bad idea. I told you we should have waited. But no— you just had to run straight to Xavier, like he’s the only one w

Emerald had not meant to hear any of it.She had only been looking for Amber, drifting down the wide corridor of the west wing with the quiet restlessness that had followed her since they arrived at the estate. Yet even within walls thick enough to shut out the city, she could still sense when something was wrong. Raised voices carried through carved oak doors no matter how expensive the insulation was, and the moment Antonio’s tone cut through the hush of the estate, Emerald slowed her steps.She stopped outside Amber’s private office with her hand still hovering in the air, uncertain whether to knock. Her father’s voice was louder than everyone else’s, riding on anger and stubbornness she knew too well. Then came Xavier’s voice, colder, controlled, laced with disappointment rather than fury. Lisa’s laughter followed, sharp and humourless, and Emerald felt something settle heavily in her chest. It was the sound of adults talking about her life without remembering she existed.She pus