Chapter 5

Matteo promised to investigate, then turned around and whisked Lilia off to Switzerland for vacation.

I worked in the shadows, accelerating every moving part. Everything was falling into place.

Then, the day before the asset transfer agreement was set to take effect, an unexpected piece of news shattered the calm.

Lilia had been attacked in Switzerland and shot in the arm.

Matteo flew her back to the DeLuca estate on his private jet that same day.

He kicked my door open like a maddened beast.

Lilia trailed behind him, her arm swathed in bandages, weeping with practiced fragility.

"Sera! The assassin was carrying a letter with your instructions!"

Matteo's bloodshot eyes bored into me. "You won't stop until she's dead. You sent an assassin after Lilia!"

Lilia tugged at Matteo's sleeve, sobbing in despair.

"Matteo, don't blame Sera... I know she can't stand having me around... If I just die, she won't have anyone left to hate..."

Her words poured fuel on the fire.

Matteo lost all control. He seized my throat and slammed me against the wall.

"You killed Noah, and now you're trying to kill Lilia! You've ruined everything!"

I could barely breathe under his grip, but I managed to choke out:

"It's a setup... you actually believe I'd put my orders in writing... you idiot..."

My words sent him over the edge.

"Guards!" He released me, his voice like ice. "Administer Punishment Zero!"

Punishment Zero was the DeLuca Family's most severe sentence.

Ninety-nine lashes with a whip soaked in brine and studded with glass shards.

Every stroke was enough to tear off a strip of flesh.

I was dragged to the open courtyard and bound to the cold iron frame.

The Elders stood in a half circle, watching me with dead eyes.

Matteo stood across from me and took the whip from his man's hand.

He ripped my clothes away, baring my skin.

"Sera, you brought this on yourself."

Crack!

The first lash fell. White-hot agony ripped through every nerve in my body.

I clenched my teeth and refused to make a sound.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Lash after lash, whistling through the air, striking flesh already torn to ribbons.

Brine and glass shards ground into my open wounds. Each blow felt like being flayed alive.

Hatred annihilated pain. I swallowed every scream with my own blood.

I would never show weakness in front of my enemies.

I gritted my teeth and counted silently.

Ninety-one, ninety-two... ninety-eight...

Ninety-nine.

The final lash fell. My body gave out, and I collapsed against the frame.

When they cut me down, I crumpled into the pool of my own blood.

Matteo and the Elders stood at a distance, watching me struggle in my own blood with nothing but contempt.

Lilia covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

I summoned every last ounce of strength and stood.

The phone in my pocket vibrated.

I pulled it out. A faint, blood-stained smile curved my lips.

The core assets were ready to transfer into the offshore trust. All the transaction needed was my final confirmation.

With one tap, I emptied Matteo's core accounts and locked down the arsenal access codes.

Then I dragged my blood-soaked body out of the DeLuca estate, step by step.

Outside the gate, a row of black armored cars waited in silence.

I climbed in and sat beside Victor, casting one last glance at the DeLuca estate.

Enjoy your final moment of peace, Matteo.

The next time we meet, I'll drown the DeLuca estate in fire and blood.