Alex had just adjusted his grip on Mia, preparing to carry her toward the exit, when he caught movement in his peripheral vision.Jefferson—who should have been unconscious, who should have been down for at least several minutes after the devastating punch he'd taken—was somehow moving. Pushing himself up from the floor with trembling arms, his face contorted with rage and pain and desperate determination.And his hand was reaching for something at his waist. A small weapon—not a gun, but a tactical knife that had been concealed in his belt. Estate security protocol. Something Jefferson had clearly forgotten he was carrying until desperation reminded him.He lunged forward, the knife aimed not at Alex—who would be too dangerous to engage directly—but at Mia. At the woman in Alex's arms who was too injured to defend herself, too weak to move out of the way.A coward's attack. From behind. Targeting the vulnerable.But Alex had been a firefighter for years. Had developed reflexes honed

And something inside Mia—something that had been building pressure for years, decades even—finally burst."Yes!" Mia's voice rose, carrying all the pain and frustration and suppressed anger she'd been holding back. "Yes, that's EXACTLY how I've felt! Like someone else in this family! Like an outsider pretending to belong! Like I had to constantly perform, constantly prove myself, constantly measure up to standards that kept changing!"Tears streamed down her face as words poured out—words she'd never allowed herself to say before. "I had DREAMS, Mom and Dad! Things I wanted to do! A career I wanted to build on MY terms! But no—I had to join the family business. Had to take the position Tom assigned me. Had to work in the division he decided I should manage. Had to prove I was worthy of the Vinda name instead of being allowed to just... just BE!"Her voice cracked. "I've been living in the shadow of myself for YEARS! Being who Tom wanted me to be instead of who I actually am! Sacrifici

The convoy of black SUVs moved through the city's nighttime streets, carrying Alex, Mia, her parents, and the operatives away from the Vinda estate.The vehicles were silent except for the quiet hum of engines and the occasional murmur of Jace coordinating with his team via secure communications.Mia sat in the back seat beside Alex, her body leaning against his for support, exhaustion finally catching up with her now that the adrenaline of the night was fading.Her injuries throbbed with every movement, but the pain felt distant somehow—muted by the overwhelming relief of being free, of being safe, of being away from that house and that family.In the seat in front of them, Vivian and Thomas sat in stunned silence, occasionally exchanging glances but saying nothing.Their faces showed people still trying to process what had happened, still trying to comprehend that they'd actually left the Vinda family, that their entire lives had just been upended in a single night.Alex noticed Mia

Romano's PalaceThe restaurant was already bustling with the lunch crowd when Tony arrived—wealthy businesspeople, celebrities, politicians, all enjoying the exclusive atmosphere and world-class cuisine that had made Romano's Palace legendary.Tony strode through the main dining area, noting with satisfaction the way heads turned, the way people recognized him as the manager of this prestigious establishment. This was his domain. His kingdom. Where he held power and influence.He was heading toward his private office when a flash of elegance near the entrance caught his attention.A woman had just entered—late twenties, stunningly beautiful, dressed in designer clothing that screamed old money and impeccable taste. Her posture, her bearing, everything about her suggested someone from the highest echelons of society.Tony recognized her immediately. Lucy Hartwell. One of the most prestigious young women from the Hartwell family—a family whose wealth and connections rivaled even the Rom

Patricia sneered, the expression making her carefully maintained face look ugly for a moment. "I don't like Lisa. Never have. Never will. There's something... tacky about her. Something desperate. Like she's always trying too hard to prove she belongs in our circles."Ben shrugged, clearly unbothered by his mother's opinion. "Well, I like her. More than like her. And your approval isn't required for me to be with who I want."Patricia's eyes narrowed, her mind clearly working on something. A calculation. A plan. Something wicked that flickered across her expression before she could fully suppress it.If Ben won't let go of Lisa willingly, Patricia thought, then perhaps Lisa needs to be... eliminated from the picture. Not literally, of course. But made unsuitable. Made undesirable. Made into someone Ben wouldn't want anymore.The idea was just forming, the wickedness of it appealing to Patricia's ruthless approach to protecting family interests, when Lucy Hartwell suddenly appeared in