The restaurant was one of those elegant places that catered to wealthy patrons soft golden lights, velvet curtains, and tables set far apart to allow privacy for hushed conversations. A violin played faintly in the background, adding to the illusion of calm.

Lena walked in, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. She carried herself with poise, but inside her stomach twisted with unease. It had only been a month since she’d stepped out of jail, and already she was weaving lies to cover the truth. She needed allies, someone equally bitter, someone who hated Maya as much as she did. Rebecca fit that role perfectly.

She spotted her...