|| VITTORIA'S POV ||
The grand estate seemed to shrink in the presence of Elijah's imposing minister, a man who wielded influence with a ruthless demeanor. As I stood in the opulent drawing room, his cold eyes scanned me from head to toe, a disdainful smirk playing on his lips.
"Vittoria," he spat my name as if it left a bitter taste on his tongue, "you seem to have forgotten your place. Elijah is not one to be toyed with. His daughter's future is at stake, and you, my dear, are an inconvenient distraction."
I squared my shoulders, refusing to let his condescension diminish my resolve. "I am well aware of the arrangement, but I will not be spoken to with such disrespect. I am not a mere pawn in this game."
He chuckled, the sound dripping with derision. "A pawn? No, my dear, you're more
