“I intended to do just that, Ranya. Go straight to the point.”

Signoral’s smile stretched across her face like a predator circling its prey. But beneath her composed facade, anger churned. Ranya had chosen her once, yet now he chose Calista—a woman with nothing but a heart too soft for this world. How laughable.

In the past, anyone would have said he wanted a woman who strived for power by his side. After Vivian left, she never expected him to fall so seamlessly for someone whose greatest gift was her innocent smile.

He stared back, saying nothing, his mere presence brimming with enough disdain to infuriate her.

"I see," she...