The rain drummed softly against the windows of Lena's apartment, its steady rhythm a backdrop to the tension that filled the room. Lena stood by the window, her arms loosely wrapped around herself, staring out into the dark, rain-soaked streets below. The image of Jacob stumbling away, his heart shattered, flickered in her mind, but it elicited no sympathy—only a cold satisfaction.“He’ll survive, won’t he?” Lena remarked offhandedly, her voice carrying an edge of indifference as she spoke. She didn’t even bother to turn around.Victor, lounging on the couch with a self-satisfied grin, let out a low chuckle. “He’s like a cockroach—annoying, but hard to kill. It’s a pity he’s too stupid to realize he’s not wanted.”Lena smirked, finally turning to face Victor. “Jacob always did have a way of clinging to things that were never his to begin with.”Victor’s smile widened, the amusement in his eyes growing. “Pathetic, isn’t it? thinking he could keep up with us. The poor idiot actually

Lena sat on the edge of the bed, her hands trembling as she clutched her phone. She hadn’t been able to close her eyes for more than a few minutes, haunted by the images from the previous night. Yet, beneath the surface, there was a strange exhilaration she couldn’t deny—a thrill that sent a shiver down her spine.Victor’s voice broke through her thoughts, low and casual. “Morning, Lena,” he said, strolling into the bedroom, fully dressed and annoyingly composed. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her with an unreadable expression.Lena looked up at him, her eyes slightly red from lack of sleep, but a wide, satisfied smile played on her lips. “Morning,” she muttered, her voice carrying a hint of excitement.Victor moved closer, sitting beside her on the bed. “You didn’t sleep,” he observed, brushing a strand of hair from her face.“I couldn’t,” she admitted, her lips curving into a smirk as she leaned into his touch. “Too much on my mind, I guess.”Victor chuckled, his hand tra

The cafe was buzzing with the morning rush, but Lena felt detached from the lively atmosphere. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts as she nervously stirred her coffee, glancing at the entrance every few seconds. She had been dreading this meeting, but she knew it was inevitable. Mark had been insistent that they speak in person, and his tone on the phone had left no room for argument.When the door finally opened and Mark stepped in, Lena's heart skipped a beat. He was exactly as she remembered—tall, with an air of quiet confidence that made him stand out even in a crowd. But today, his usual warmth was absent. His eyes were cold and red as they scanned the room, landing on Lena with an almost clinical detachment. He walked over to her table without a hint of a smile.“Mark, thank you for meeting me,” Lena began, trying to keep her voice steady. She gestured to the chair opposite her, but Mark didn’t sit. Instead, he crossed his arms, his expression hardening.“I’m only h

Victor's eyes narrowed as he scanned the cemetery, his irritation simmering just below the surface. The funeral had drawn a larger crowd than he’d expected—too many unfamiliar faces. It was almost offensive. Jacob was never the type to have this many people care about him, was he? The idea feeding his frustration.His gaze roamed over the gathered mourners, landing on a man standing apart from the rest. Tall, with dark hair and an unsettlingly calm demeanour, the man seemed oddly detached from the proceedings. He wasn’t grieving. He was watching—watching too closely.Victor’s eyes lingered on him, a sliver of recognition tugging at the edges of his memory, but it slipped away as quickly as it came. Who the hell was he?The stranger noticed Victor's gaze and looked away, a slight smirk playing on his lips as if he were amused by Victor’s scrutiny. The audacity irked Victor, but as he confronted the man, Amelia's cold hand slipped into his arm, guiding him away. He shot one last glance

Mark paced back and forth in his small, dimly lit apartment, the phone pressed tightly against his ear. His heart pounded with anticipation and anxiety as he listened to the voice on the other end of the line. The voice was distorted, disguised to keep its identity hidden, but Mark didn’t care. He had made his decision—there was no turning back now.“You’ve done well, Mark,” the voice said, calm and authoritative. “The police are acting on the information you provided. Victor will have a hard time explaining this one away.”Mark clenched his jaw, his hand trembling slightly as he gripped the phone. “This is only the beginning. I want to see Victor Montgomery pay for what he did to Jacob. He took everything from me.”“And you will have your revenge,” the voice assured him. “But remember, Mark, this isn’t just about Victor. There are bigger forces at play, and if you play your cards right, you could come out of this with more than just revenge.”“What do you mean?” Mark asked, his voice