h and power, now felt more like a prison. Ariana stood at the window of her lavish guest room, her arms crossed tightly ove

ansion seemingly closing in on her. She had been kept in the dark about most t

stion was-why di

e looked at him, every time their eyes met, there was something there. Something that she couldn't quite place. A storm

m for feelings in this world. Not with L

o standing in the doorway. His expression was unreadable, his eyes co

aid, trying to sound casual, though

scanning the room like a predator eyeing its prey. "Y

ows furrowe

her once more, lingering on her for a second longer than

of his name. The man she couldn't figure

ctantly, brushing pas

-

Estate – H

g the otherwise silent air. As they walked, Ariana couldn't help but feel like a pawn in a g

nate wooden door. He knocked twice before entering, his presence as silent as

as hard, his eyes focused on whatever was in front of him, but Ariana could see the tension i

e said witho

could feel the weight of his gaze even thou

d, his voice sharp,

om him. The room felt colder now, as if t

Ariana asked, trying t

d something, Ariana," he said quietly, leaning back in his chair. "You may not want to be

e, but she forced herself to h

dangerous smile. "Then you'll find

inking at the implication. She opened her mouth to re

suddenly softer, more controlled. "The Bianchi family isn't just a t

My part? I'm not a soldier,

ng an edge she hadn't heard before. "You're my leverage. And r

about? Her stomach churned at the thought. She wasn't a tool fo

gered in the air, sh

lready in

-

ame U

f tossing and turning in her bed, unable to sleep. Her mind replayed his wo

as le

all she w

the way he looked at her, something beyond control and power. There was a hi

her door interru

ning. She knew who it was befor

he doorway, framed by the dim light from the hallwa

me," he said quietly, his

ked, her voice thi

, he stepped into the room and shut the doo

cryptically, his gaz

rd. She had no choi

-

idden

ension thickening in the air. Every step she took felt lik

r stood. The air was heavy with the scent of something metallic, somet

his voice low. "Everything I've done, every

rt pounded.

In this world, survival is everything. The Bianchi family... they

her spine. She had walked into a war she didn

s she entered, the first thing she saw was a wall of monitors, each showing differ

ame changes," he sai

something that wasn't cold, wasn't calculating. There was a fire in

just a pawn

as a