LOGINSerena's POVThe paper tore slightly under my grip before I noticed what my hands were doing. My fingers had curled around it so tight that my knuckles turned white, the thin sheet folding into itself again and again. The words were still there, burned into my mind like a brand, even though I couldn't see them anymore. I was breathing quickly and sharply, each breath fighting the heat rising in my throat.The hospital room felt too clean and quiet for what was inside it. No one was in the bed, and the blankets looked and smelled like they had been covered in blood. Machines stood where a body should have been, silent witnesses to a lie played too well. I took two steps back, my heel touching the cold floor like it would help me calm down.“Serena.”Nathan’s voice reached me before I saw him. He slowed down as he walked through the door, as if he could feel the tension before he was fully inside. I didn't look at him. I kept my eyes glued to the bed, as if Vanessa might get up again a
Serena's POVAt first, the nurse didn't say anything and just stood there with her hands joined close to her body. She kept rubbing her fingers together like she was trying to make them warm. I noticed the way her eyes avoided mine, flicking to the hallway and back again. The silence stretched long enough to feel its heaviness.“I shouldn’t be saying this,” she finally whispered, her voice thin and shaky. She leaned closer, lowering her head as if the walls themselves could listen. “But something about that woman didn’t feel right from the moment she got here.” Her breath trembled as she spoke, and I could hear fear hiding behind her words.I nodded slowly to let her keep going without interruption. My hands rested on the counter, even though I was feeling a tightness in my chest. “Tell me what you saw,” I said gently, keeping my voice calm. She swallowed hard before speaking again.“She came in late,” the nurse said, her voice barely louder than the machines humming nearby. “She got
Serena's POVThe sea had become too quiet again, too quiet, like it had swallowed its own scream and decided to pretend nothing happened. Smoke still hung low over the water where Vanessa’s boat had disappeared, with dark lines that looked like bruises floating on the waves. Emergency lights flashed from patrol boats circling the area, their reflections showing the surface as if the ocean refused to hold one clear truth. I stood at the edge of the rescue boat, my fingers tightly gripping the cold metal, burning my skin. No body, no proof, just a silence that grows longer with each minute.Damian sat behind me on the deck, leaning his back against a box. His shoulders were slumped in a way that was new to me. His face seemed older, with lines made deep by loss, fear, and not enough sleep at night. When the medics checked him, he waved them off at first, pride still clinging to him like a habit he could not drop. Then his strength gave out all at once, and he sank back down, taking a sh
Serena's POVThe dock lights turned into long streaks as Vanessa's motorboat ripped off of the pier, its engine howling like a hurt animal. I stood frozen, my nose filled with the thick smell of fuel and salt before Damian grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the second boat. There was no charm in his face, and his mouth was set hard and his eyes were focused on the dark water in front of him. He was only driven by anger and determination now.With hands shaking, the crew released the ropes as we jumped on board. The engine roared to life under Damian’s command, and it made a sound that shook me from head to toe. As we moved quickly forward, the cold wind hit my face, and the city lights faded behind us like stars that were about to die. Somewhere ahead, Vanessa was running again, and this time she had nowhere left to hide.As we went farther, the sea got rougher, and the waves looked like angry shoulders rising and falling. I held on to the side of the boat, my knuckles white, tryin
Serena's POV The air inside the underground hall felt thick, like it was holding its breath. From the roof, heavy lights hung down, making sharp shadows on masked faces and shiny shoes. The crowd buzzed with low voices, mone. They all wore expensive suits. I stood still in my disguise, heart steady, eyes locked forward, waiting. Vanessa walked onto the stage as if she owned it. Her dark red dress clung to her body like spilled wine, bold and cruel. She smiled slowly, the kind of smile that never reached the eyes, and lifted her chin as if greeting people who looked up to her. The room got quiet as they leaned toward her voice. “Look at you all,” Vanessa said, spreading her arms wide. “The finest buyers, the sharpest minds, and those who have a deep understanding of reality.” She looked around the room before settling her gaze on me. Her smile widened, sharp and knowing. She pointed directly at me, her finger steady and proud. “And then there she is,” Vanessa said, her voice loud
Serena’s POVVanessa was always one step ahead of me.I felt it the moment our plane landed in Monaco, like a chessboard already arranged while I was still choosing my first move.She wanted us here, every burned trail and half-revealed clue leading straight into her territory.With all its lights and fancy things, this city didn't feel like a rich person's playground anymore; it felt like a perfectly staged war zone.We checked into the hotel under false names. The entrance smelled like polished stone and fancy perfume. It was a place where you could buy loyalty and learn how to smile.I didn't take off my sunglasses, even when I was indoors. I was relaxed, but my nerves were still on edge.I felt like there was an eye looking back at me on every surface that could reflect light.Nathan quickly and quietly secured the whole floor with small devices humming behind the walls, preventing anyone else from hearing what was going on.Adrian memorized exits, his injured arm held stiffly at







