ement, each word she pronounced, every gesture she made, locked her a little more in the canvas than Liam had woven around her. But what he was unaware was that she

s in reality only a fragile construction that

s to see the cracks that were starting to train. Jade had learned to read them, to understand their gestures, to capture their faults. The perf

mies, his manipulation strategies - everything was calculated, planned. And she, in her golden cage, did not seem to be only a simple victim, but of a spectator carefully engaged in this macabre

glory, had not yet understood that he did not hold the reins of his power as firmly as he believed it. This dinner

he pretenses, and yet he wore a heavy burden every day. Jade knew that his simple presence, his measured silence, attracted him to a power game in which he would not have the advantage

m. Jade ate without really taste the refined dishes, without being interested in the

e, his cold and direct voice p

r tonight, Jade.

her gaze. It was a game, and s

enough to be docile, or just to assure you that I d

ly. He knew she was going to provoke him, that this dinner was going to tu

ch gesture here has a consequence. If you think I'm going to let yo

in hers. The words escaped from his lips as

ed that it is you who will feel the weight of your own arr

however. He considered it, analyzed it, looking for the fault, a moment of

inue to believe that you are more malignant. This i

each word, each gaze, each tension in the air. But he di

control every aspect of what you ca

the flaws to be exploited. Each word from Liam was only an additional step towards the end of this

slowly, her burning

ee. Nothing is frozen in this world, not even

d changed. She was ready to fight, ready to bring down this empire

was launched. Jade knew what he was going to ask him would not be a simple formality. Each Liam decision

a low voice, almost indifferent

othing more than a spectator in her game, a pawn on her chessboard. However, she also knew that such an encounter could be the key. A moment of opport

of her thoughts. He had already warned her. It was up to her to understand

. Liam did not exchange a word, and Jade, although used to tension their r

an did not bear the weight of his opponent's life. It was lighter, almost dangerous in a different way, like a cage beast re

ntion. It was obvious that the tension between them was not just that of a fight for power, but of a personal ri

what troubled her more was the way Liam looked at her for a moment. It was not a cold or indifferent look, as he used to. It was ... different.

an in Liam, a being of power, a machine to crush his enemies. But this moment, this simple look, forced her to reconsider what she thought of knowing him. Maybe he was not just a heartles

on, even if his gaze, a fraction of a second earlier, had betrayed an emotion that he did not want us to perceive. Jade knew he was danger

pt control, as always. But Jade couldn't help but rethink this glow, this fragility that his gaze had betrayed. It was not the image she had of him. It

point of vulnerability that she could exploit. A moment when she could ma

e had a role to play, but he was not yet clear in her mind. She had to observe, listen, and wait. Each mov

who held all the sons. He knew when to leave, he knew how to control the game. But when they went away, Jade could not get rid o

even if this moment of vulnerability existed in him, she could not afford to forget reality: Li