The black car moved silently through the wet streets of Manhattan, tires spraying water along the curb. Aria Russo sat rigid in the back seat, hands clenched in her lap, heart beating faster than she wanted to admit. Her world, which had always been ordinary, was collapsing around her in a way she had never imagined. The café, her apartment, even her quiet routine, all felt distant and fragile.She tried to make sense of it, to ground herself with logic, but every second the car moved deeper into the city’s shadows, the less ordinary her life felt. She glanced out the window, trying to memorize landmarks, but nothing looked familiar.The car came to a smooth stop in front of an imposing mansion, gates tall and black, adorned with intricate carvings. The building was more a fortress than a home, each window reflecting the dim glow of the streetlights. Aria swallowed hard, noticing the polished marble path leading up to the entrance, flanked by statues that seemed to watch her.A man in
Last Updated : 2025-11-01 Read more