Brendan’s heart skipped a beat as he instinctively dove out of the way, his body moving before his brain could fully comprehend the danger.

The chandelier shattered, crashing to the floor in a thunderous cacophony of glass and metal. The pieces scattered across the floor, and Brendan could feel the cold weight of fate hanging in the balance.

If he’d been even a second slower…

Brendan pressed a trembling hand to his forehead, his breaths shaky.

“Who the hell is she?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Sophia’s cold, calculating eyes flashed in Brendan’s memory. She wasn’t just dangerous; she was terrifying.

Sophia could’ve killed Katelyn in an instant, but instead, she had made him do the dirty work—her cold manipulation leaving a bitter taste in Brendan’s mouth.

The next morning, in the opulent penthouse of a five-star hotel, Ryanna lounged on the balcony with a glass of red wine in hand. She sipped slowly, her eyes fixed on the horizon, where clouds, soft and fluffy like cotton candy, floated serenely.

Ryanna’s shoulders were draped in a white ostrich-feather coat, accentuating her regal grace. As a breeze stirred, she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing diamond earrings that glinted like fragments of a clear blue sky. Her movement radiated an untouchable elegance reserved for royalty or those born to command it.

When Annie stepped onto the balcony, her gaze was immediately drawn to Ryanna. For a brief moment, jealousy flickered in her eyes. That poise, that effortless beauty—if Ryanna hadn’t been born a princess, would she still have all of this?

But Annie quickly buried the thought, forcing a polite smile as she approached.

“Ryanna,” Annie said gently, her voice tinged with concern. “Isn’t it too chilly to sit out here? You’ll catch a cold.”

The air carried the crispness of early autumn, the season just beginning to leave its mark on Yata.

Ryanna lowered her wine glass, turning her calm, almost ethereal gaze toward Annie. A soft smile played on her lips.

“I’m fine,” she replied, her voice smooth and composed. “But is everything alright? Was there a reason you called me here?”

? ? .

Annie stiffened for a moment, disliking how serene Ryanna always seemed. It was as though nothing could rattle her. But she kept her own smile steady.

“It’s not me who asked you to come,” she said, her tone light but slightly clipped. “It was Fiona.”

Knowing she had failed Ryanna, Fiona had been desperately trying to fix things by organizing a meeting. But Ryanna had repeatedly refused, always brushing her off with the excuse of a busy schedule.

Frustrated, Fiona had finally roped in Annie to set up this meeting.

Ryanna frowned slightly. Her voice was steady, tinged with indifference.

“She didn’t try hard enough. Whatever happened is her own fault. Meeting her won’t change that.”

Ryanna adjusted the collar of her elegant coat, her gaze drifting toward the horizon. The sunrise was breathtaking, spilling golden light across the clouds and painting the sky in brilliant hues.

It was the kind of view only the most exclusive penthouse in Yata could provide—a spectacle that seemed almost otherworldly.

Annie flashed a bright smile, her voice tinged with amusement. “Still, we should meet her. She’s been… quite generous with me.”

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