Capítulo 41: Puntos de rupturaLa Mansión Voss - EstudioLa mansión Voss se sentía demasiado tranquila, el tipo de silencio que presionaba contra las paredes y hacía que los muebles ornamentados se sintieran asfixiantes.Sebastián se quedó en el estudio, mirando por las ventanas del piso al techo.Las luces de la ciudad se reflejaban en su vaso de whisky, el hielo se derritió durante mucho tiempo, el líquido ámbar apenas se movía.La palabra "asesor" sonó en su cabeza como una sentencia de muerte. Lo habían despojado del poder, lo habían humillado, y el mundo entero lo sabría por la mañana.La puerta principal se cerró de golpe, rompiendo el silencio. Sebastián no se dio la vuelta. Él ya conocía el sonido de la furia de Camilla.Sus tacones traquetearon en el suelo de mármol, afilados y staccato, como disparos. Ella irrumpió en el estudio, con el abrigo todavía puesto, los ojos encendidos, el olor a ginebra y perfume de alta gama llenando la habitación."¿'Papel de asesor'?" Ella escu

Chapter 43: Dinner at Dante'sThe invitation arrived on thick, cream-colored cardstock. Elegant, but heavy."Aria—Strategy requires privacy. For the future of the company. Dinner. Dante's. 8 PM."Aria held it for Lucian."He's desperate," she said, scanning the note. "Begging, threatening... maybe confessing. Probably all three."Aria smiled weakly. "He'll give me something. Desperate men always do. Even if it's just his own neck in a noose."DANTE RESTAURANT ~ NEW YORKDante's didn't need a sign. The kind of place where reputation was the password. Inside, dark wood, blood-red leather, hushed murmurs of offers over thousand-dollar bottles of wine. Sebastian had reserved the most private booth in the back.He was already there, swirling a glass of red wine. He stood up as she approached. For a heartbeat, she saw the man who used to be charming, self-assured. Then the despair returned."Aria... thank you for coming," he said, his voice too warm."You said it was about strategy," she re

CAPÍTULO 45: CELOSEl silencio después del exilio de Sebastián fue el más fuerte que Aria había escuchado. No era paz. Fue la aspiradora antes de un nuevo tipo de tormenta.Encontró a Adrian en el estudio de Lucian, rodeado de tres tabletas diferentes y un portátil más viejo que él. Su frente estaba fruncida en intensa concentración."¿Cuál es la misión de hoy, explorador?" Ella preguntó, inclinándose hacia la puerta."Actualización de seguridad", dijo, sin mirar hacia arriba. Sus pequeños dedos volaron sobre una tableta, arrastrando líneas de código colorido. "El hombre malo se ha ido, pero la serpiente sigue en el jardín. Y la esposa del hombre malo es... una variable". Usó la palabra con cuidado, como una nueva herramienta.La respiración de Aria se atrapó. La metáfora del jardín de Izzy, hablada en privado, había sido escuchada. Adrian no se perdió nada."¿Qué tipo de actualización?" Preguntó Lucian, entrando con dos tazas de café."Un perímetro familiar", explicó Adrian. Le dio l

CHAPTER 47: Poison in the spotlightGALA FUTURE FOUNDATIONS — HOTEL GRAND REGENCY — NIGHTThe Grand Regency ballroom gleamed like a jewel. Crystal chandeliers sparkled above. The chatter of the city's elite mingled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the rustle of expensive dresses. They all pretended to care about the schools while they were really forging alliances.Aria entered Gabriel Thorne's arm, each step calculated. He had called that morning:"Come as my guest," he had said. "We can discuss... mutual interests."She had agreed. After Sebastian's chilling confession at Dante's, she needed eyes everywhere. Thorne was a rival of Sebastian's, hungry for pieces of Voss. Why not play the game?Heads turned as they entered. Aria's black dress hugged her curves perfectly, her blonde hair elegantly styled. Thorne leaned in, his voice gentle. "You clean well, Mrs. Maverick. Heads are turning; Sebastian is probably furious somewhere."She smiled weakly, scanning the room. "That's the p

The attic was quiet, but the internet was on fire.Aria stood by the window, holding Adrian's tablet. The photo was still on the screen, the sunlight reflecting off it, clear as day. It was powerful. But not enough. Not yet."This can't be all we use," he said quietly. "If I go to war, I go with evidence."She picked up her phone and walked away from the others."Maya," he said as the call connected. "I need a favor. A dangerous one."Maya sighed at the other end. "Aria... I don't like the sound of that.""It's Camilla Voss," Aria interrupted. "She's telling the world she had a miscarriage last night. She's blaming me. I think it's a lie. I need to know if she was ever pregnant."There was a pause. Then Maya's voice changed, becoming higher and more focused."Which hospital?""St. Catherine's private. Late last night. That's what the press is saying.""Stay where you are," Maya said. "I'll call you back."The wait was brutal.Lucian paced the living room like a caged animal. "She's di