Anna didn’t sleep that night, dwarfed by the quiet hum of her phone notifications in the penthouse—sound that did nothing to ease the chaos inside her mind. Julian’s text burned like a brand, fueling her fears: Did you really believe I deleted that video? Every time she closed her eyes, the screen haunted her—the threat, the reminder, the control he still wielded over her.
She sat on the edge of the luxurious guest suite bed, silk sheets and soft lighting unable to mask the feeling of confinement. Julian had made one thing clear: he wasn’t finished. And now, he had proof—the video still existed, giving him the power to destroy her, her career, her life with Adrian. Everything.
Slowly, Anna rose and approached Adrian’s private study—her heart pounding. Julian’s demand echoed in her mind:
