rand Canal. Gondolas drifted by like quiet sentinels, their passengers unaware that history was pr

ces that lined the marble walls. A grand chandelier loomed above a dining table of blackened oak, set fo

as po

Vera Dae sat

e water with every breath. Her lips were blood-red, her earrings daggers of

d at her Ca

59

as pr

oor op

ark suit, his face carefully arranged in neutrality. But Vera could see it:

wasn't

he greete

oss from hers. "Adrian. I'm gl

t, but no

ense," he said. "Why

nsive. This could've been a reunion. A moment to ma

your name, built a corporation just to sabotage

d a life. You destroyed my brother. You humiliated me in front of the

ll Sebastian,

ly. "But you created

s jaw. "What do y

ng her wine. "I've already

ade him

do you

companies you used to pad your fortune? They're mine now. Your Cayman ac

pa

re blu

smi

ian. I'm

scanning legal documents, stock transfers, letters of

s," he whispered.

and ignorance. And because I made sure you were surrounded by people

the folder shu

eyes the moment you realized what

reathing

eat

're not. You just have a grudge and money. That d

lted he

. "It makes me

- Across

rs, a team of lawyers, financial analysts, and cyber investigators surrounding him. On th

?" Li Mei asked, her hand hoveri

ssage from Vera had arrived min

ded. "N

ed. Every transaction traced. Every false loan called in.

is exact second, was

t the P

ng now. His fork remained un

muttered. "All this

bed me. You lied. You turned my cousin against me. You let my father betray

this makes y

id. "This mak

"You don't even use yo

u betrayed her. But Vera Dae was born that same night-born fro

a singl

city, Cass

presse

wiped from three boards of directors. His account

Forbes and Fortune - began to coll

vibrated with emergency alerts. His assistant t

up, horro

nt he realized that the world he'd built

ave the right

s. Transactions. Witnesses. I could've sent you to pr

ched his

do you

smi

n you discarded became the one who destroyed you. And that you

contorted. He

didn't

ed from the shadows, re

e a fina

bye, A

of her heels echoing through the ma

Later - Th

ower, the wind teasing her hair. Cassian

t?" he

ised he

ings," s

nnings,"

linked

immered like fireflies. Above,

atisfied?"

took

. "But I'm free. And now

do you

d him a ne

e were

rful

chable

at th

n Ala

ect of it all," she said.

aled. "So it

m, eyes glowing w

id. "It's jus

Chapte