Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25: THE FIRST STRIKE The door clicked shut behind Claire, but the echo of her presence refused to leave. It lingered in the air, heavy and suffocating, as though the penthouse itself had absorbed the tension she carried. Vivian Harper remained still for a moment, her gaze fixed on the space where Claire had stood, her mind replaying every word, every glance, every carefully chosen pause. It hadn’t been a denial. It hadn’t even been a defense. It had been something far more dangerous, a declaration without confirmation, a warning without fear. And that was what unsettled Vivian the most. Claire hadn’t been rattled. She had been prepared. Sebastian stood near the door, his posture rigid, his expression dark with thought. When he finally turned, his eyes held a sharpness that hadn’
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