Bella lay awake in bed that night, the weight of everything pressing down on her chest. Damian’s confidence, his cold determination—it should have reassured her. But instead, it only heightened her anxiety. She had seen the lengths he would go to protect what he deemed his. He wasn’t just ruthless; he was unstoppable when it came to guarding his empire.
But what if this time, it wasn’t enough?
Her phone buzzed again, breaking through the silence. For a moment, she froze, her pulse spiking with the sudden noise. It could be Luke again—or worse, the media. Reluctantly, she reached for it, her hand trembling slightly as she unlocked the screen.
A message flashed up: Don’t forget what’s at stake, Bella. Midnight. The usual place.
Luke. She stared at the words, her mind racing. He was pushi
