Cristiano sat alone in the cathedral-like silence of the estate chapel. Candles flickered, casting shadows across his face, but nothing softened the war raging in his heart.

She had chosen rebellion over him.

And damn it, he respected her more for it.

“She’s not afraid of me anymore,” he muttered.

“No,” came Matteo’s voice behind him, “she’s afraid of what she’ll become if she stays quiet.”

Cristiano turned slowly. “She wants to dismantle everything we’ve built.”

“She wants to destroy the rot inside it,” Matteo corrected. “You know she’s right.”

Cristiano stood, his voice low and hard. “If I let her go down this road, she’ll be hunted by everyone...