The city didn't sleep that night, but it watched. By morning, every major outlet carried the same headline in different words: LUCIEN BLACKWOOD UNDER INVESTIGATION. WIFE LINKED TO CORPORATE FRAUD ALLEGATIONS. The narrative had shifted. Not questioned. Not speculated. Declared. And Victor had finally stepped out of the shadows .
Holding her head in her hands, Aria stood in front of the window which looked out into Lucien's penthouse and her reflection faced the dimly lit sky. The morning light was silver and harsh, and no one knew that was the right combination of light for the storm which was building under it. She had a mobile phone that was buzzing on the table behind her. She didn’t turn. Didn’t pick it up. Didn’t need to. She already knew. They had crossed over a line. No — Victor had
