RAFAEL
I returned to the villa just after sunrise, the bike’s engine still rumbling in my chest as I killed it in the garage. The night had been long with meetings with Marco, digging into Viktor’s movements, trying to quiet the storm in my head. Isabella’s confession, Selene’s demanding a place in the villa, and the broken pendant. Everything was unraveling, and I was the one holding the threads.
Selene was lounging on the couch like she owned it, scrolling through her phone with that smug expression she wore when she thought she was winning. Isabella sat across from her, stiff and small, eyes red-rimmed from crying. The bruise on her cheek was still visible. My jaw tightened.
Both women looked up. The air grew thick instantly.
Selene stood first, a smile spreading across her face. “
