y ounce of self-discipline to remain composed in the days after her confrontation with Felix. She had wanted to scream, to lash out, but the woman who had once been

was fine, that the smooth exterior of their marriage remained intact. But with each passing day, Ma

ded Felix whenever she could, choosing instead to retreat into her private study, where she could carefully review the plans she

he glanced at the screen to see an encrypted message from Victor.

the study and opened it, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. As she made her way down the hallway, she paused in front of Felix's office. The door was ajar, and she could hear his voice on the phone, low and indistinct. She co

yer stretched out before her as she descended the staircase. The mansion was a reflection of their sta

felt different-cooler, sharper-as if the city had somehow changed in the last few days. Her mind, still

the atmosphere was calm, but there was a quiet tension in the air. Victor was already waiting at a secluded ta

down without waiting for him to rise. "H

mething else she couldn't quite place. "Everything is in order. I've secured t

It was a well-thought-out move-Felix's businesses, the ones that had grown under his hands, were no

, steady. "I want him to feel the weight of every dec

never doubted you, Mariana. You've got t

o learn to survive, Victor. I wasn't always this strong. But

id, a subtle smile curving his lips. "Yo

I care about making them understand that betrayal has consequences. Felix will see the consequ

vering. "And what about Anton? Ha

much longer. Anton Mikhailov is a snake. He's been playing both sides for years.

a more serious tone. "He won't se

e. "Good. I don't want to leave anything to chance. We make sure Felix is

s palpable, a shared understanding between the two of them that things were about to escalate. Mariana

ldn't shake the feeling that everything was falling into place. But there was still a part of her that held a deep, gnawing emptines

t all of the legal steps had been finalized. The contracts, the assets, everything was in her name now. Felix had n

both disconnected and in control. The man she had once loved, the man she had thought sh

, a determined glint in her eyes. It was time for Felix to realiz