Elena sat in the glow of the laptop screen, her hands clenched into fists. The recording of her mother’s voice still echoed in her mind.

Protect her.

She had come to the Valenti estate seeking answers, thinking love might be enough to survive the darkness. But love had become a battlefield, and now, survival wasn’t enough.

She wanted justice.

She wanted blood.

And if Cristiano wouldn’t stand beside her… then he’d better not stand in her way.

The next morning, the mansion buzzed with tension. Armed guards moved with tighter precision. Word had spread about a potential rebellion in the southern territories—territories Cristiano once controlled with ease.

Elena entered the...