Serena’s POV
The penthouse is a cocoon of tension in. the morning, breaking through the windows with a harsh light that mirrors the turmoil within. The arrest of Lila last night reverberates in my bones, her mocking laugh a ghost in my mind, but the escape of her accomplice and Victor’s elusive flight leave a bitter taste. I sit at the dining table, my sweater exchanged for a crisp white blouse, my hair tied back, poring over the crash site report—tire marks, paint chips, Jake’s confession—all pointing to Victor’s vengeance. The twins’ support, their voices on a recorded statement, strengthens me, but the weight of Emily’s death, the sabotage I couldn’t prevent, presses on my chest. Adrian’s presence, his steady hand on my shoulder as he joins me, is a lifeline, a love growing beyond the
