Julia's POV Like any devoted fiancée, I sat beside Romeo's bed while the doctor explained that they were beginning to wean him off the sedation. Holding his hand, I kept a worried expression on my face, all while feeling Victor's eyes on me, assessing every move I made. Over the past few days, I'd been paying close attention to the mansion's operations room. I'd already noticed the discreet activity in that wing, the restricted access, the hushed meetings, and the guards constantly stationed outside the door. I still didn't know who they were meeting with or what they were discussing, but the way they guarded that room was enough to tell me it held the answers I was looking for. That was probably where my advantage lay. But I still needed an opportunity to get inside, especially with Victor constantly around. He already knew I'd lost the baby. The doctor had told him behind my back, which meant my time was running out. "I'll need to be away for two days. Could he wake up du

Julia's POV Three days passed, and Victor never showed up. I continued my routine as if nothing had happened. As if everything were still under control. I took care of my son and stayed by Romeo's bedside, waiting for him to wake up. Outwardly, I was exactly what everyone expected: a devoted woman, constantly vigilant, consumed by worry. Inside… my mind never stopped. I knew, without anyone having to tell me, that Victor already knew about my brief visit to the meeting room. The house never let me forget it. Employees began appearing constantly, at random intervals. Their presence was far too frequent to be nothing more than my paranoia. It was surveillance. That was the message. I was never alone. I gently squeezed Romeo's hand, more to steady myself than as any gesture of affection. That was when I noticed a small movement, almost imperceptible. My heart stopped for a second… before pounding twice as hard. I watched with absolute focus, holding my breath as if any s

Julia's POV I watched my son in silence as I finished packing his small bag. Each neatly folded piece of clothing felt more difficult than it should have been. I had been preparing myself for this moment, but I hadn't realized how hard it would be. My mother stood against the doorway, arms crossed, watching me with the same look of disgust she always wore, only now it seemed worse. "You're stirring up trouble again, aren't you?" I ignored her and calmly zipped the bag shut. "It's only for a little while. And I'll cover all the expenses, so don't worry about money. If anything happens, call me." She let out a dry laugh. I wanted to turn around and walk away, but I had no other choice. And no matter how much my mother hated me, she loved her grandson. "'Only for a little while'… Of course. Sometimes I wonder if you even believe your own lies." My son slept peacefully, quiet and undisturbed. The decision to leave him with my mother for a while had been sudden. I needed

Nicole's POV When the woman spoke to me and asked my name, all my senses immediately went on high alert. No one there asked my name. Working as a waitress in that place meant being invisible. Moving between the tables, making sure the glasses were always full, without ever drawing attention. But that woman was different. Her first question had been my name. I could feel her eyes on me, attentive and observant, following my every move. She was analyzing me, trying to get closer. For the first time, I had the feeling that I was close to something concrete. Never before had I attracted someone's interest like that. Asking Caesar and Camille for help had been an act of desperation mixed with hope. But so far, nothing had come of it. Maybe I had been wrong, and Caesar wasn't going to help me at all. But somewhere along the way, I had stumbled onto something real. I watched the woman talk to several people. When she finally decided to leave, she asked me a few more questi

Julia's POV I got out of the car and stared at the mansion. With Victor out of the picture, I had a few options now. I could stay with Romeo. He would recover, we would get married, and it would be a good deal. A very good deal, actually. I was no longer pregnant. I no longer had an heir, but I could always have another one. The question was whether I wanted to. That whole period had proven complicated and fragile. With Victor gone and Romeo weakened, I finally had access and power. I could move around without his constant surveillance. I knew the security guards and staff would still try to contact Victor, of course, but they wouldn't get an answer. That gave me a precious advantage. As soon as I arrived, I took a shower and went straight to Romeo's room. His recovery was going faster than I'd expected. He was still a strong, determined man. I took advantage of the opportunity to search Victor's room, which was in another wing. The door was locked, but it had a simple lock. I