Magnus sat in his car outside the luxury apartment building where he'd installed Veronica, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles had gone white.His face was a mask of frustration, anger, and barely suppressed fury—lines carved deep into his seventy-year-old features by stress and rage.He'd had no choice. No choice but to leave his company headquarters in the middle of a crisis.No choice but to bow to a woman young enough to be his granddaughter.No choice but to submit to blackmail from someone he'd thought he controlled."This is temporary," Magnus muttered to himself, finally releasing the steering wheel. "I'll deal with her demands today, then find a way to neutralize those recordings. There has to be a way."He stepped out of his expensive sedan, adjusted his tie with trembling fingers, and walked toward the building entrance.What Magnus didn't notice—what he was too consumed by his own problems to notice—was the plain gray sedan parked two spaces behin

Darius felt the weight of Bill's question settle over him like a physical thing. His expression shifted almost imperceptibly—a slight frown, a tightening around his eyes—betraying the internal calculation happening beneath his calm exterior.He turned away from Bill, moving to the study window that overlooked the gardens bathed in golden evening light. The silence stretched between them, filled only by the distant sounds of laughter from the dining room where Alessia, Aria, and Emma continued their celebration."Young Master?" Bill prompted gently after the pause had grown long. "I'm sorry if I've overstepped. I just... I need to understand."Darius's hands clasped behind his back, his posture military-straight despite the casual clothes he wore. His mind worked through possibilities, consequences, risks. The truth—that he was the War God, the legendary commander whose very name made enemy forces surrender—would put Bill in danger. Knowledge like that made you a target. Made your fami

"I want to go to college," Alessia said, her voice gaining strength with each word. "I want to continue my education. Get a degree. Build a career. Make something of myself."The silence that followed was brief but absolute. Then Bill's face broke into the widest smile anyone had seen from him in years."Alessia!" Bill's voice cracked with emotion. "That's WONDERFUL! Of course you have my support! I've always wanted you to get a proper education, but we could never afford—" He stopped, overwhelmed."You really mean it, Father?" Alessia asked, her own eyes glistening. "You don't think I'm being foolish? I'm already twenty years old. Most people start college at eighteen—""Foolish?" Bill reached out and took her hand. "My daughter, wanting an education is never foolish. It's one of the smartest things you could do. I'm so PROUD of you."Aria stood and moved to Alessia's side. "You'll need protection. The families who've targeted Young Master might try to use you to get to him. I'll ser

Alessia stared at Sophia Romano, her mind racing through options.The crowd had grown larger now, forming a tight circle around them like spectators at a gladiatorial match. Phones were raised, recording every second, ready to immortalize her humiliation on social media."Well?" Sophia demanded, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. "I'm waiting. On your knees. Now.""I apologized," Alessia said, trying to keep her voice steady. "It was an accident. I didn't mean to hurt your dog. But I'm not getting on my knees.""Excuse me?" Sophia's perfectly shaped eyebrows rose. "Did you just REFUSE me?""I said I was sorry," Alessia repeated. "I offered to pay for any vet bills. But I won't kneel and grovel over an accident."The crowd gasped. Someone whistled low. "She's got guts," a male voice said admiringly."Guts?" Sophia's laugh was brittle and cruel. "More like stupidity. Do you have ANY idea who you're talking to?""Sophia Romano," Alessia replied. "Daughter of Vincent Romano. You've made

Alessia's mind raced, weighing her options against the reality of her situation.She was alone in a hallway full of students who clearly knew better than to cross the Romano family.Josh stood inches away, radiating predatory confidence, absolutely certain of her compliance.But Alessia had spent three years protecting graves in a cemetery, facing down thugs and poverty and despair. She'd learned that sometimes, the only way to survive was to appear to bend."Fine," Alessia said, the word tasting like ash in her mouth. "What do you want me to do?"Josh's smile returned instantly, triumphant and smug. "Now that's more like it. I knew you were smart underneath all that defiance."He stepped back slightly, giving her space—or perhaps just positioning himself to enjoy his victory more fully. "It's simple, really. First, you're going to apologize to Sophia properly. Then—"RIIIIING!The class bell cut through his words like a knife through silk. Its shrill electronic tone echoed through th