Rafael’s confession hit the war room like a sudden storm at dawn. The young man sat across from Aria and Dante, his hands clasped tightly on the marble table, eyes filled with heavy guilt. The morning light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows cast long shadows across his face, highlighting the tension in his features.
“I should have told you sooner,” Rafael admitted, his voice low and strained. “Elena approached me months ago, back when I was still with Antonio. She offered me the entire empire if I helped her dismantle Dante’s rule from within. I refused… but I didn’t tell you everything. I kept some of her messages hidden because I wanted to prove my loyalty first.”
Aria felt a sharp stab of betrayal twist in her chest, but she forced herself to breathe through it. She had c
