Alfred stood in the shadows of the living room, his arms wrapped securely around Liam. The boy was small and heavy, his tiny hands clutching Alfred's shirt as they watched the wreckage of the family's peace crumble in front of them.
Alfred felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He had served the Thorns for decades, but even he was stunned. So, Alina was never supposed to be the one?
Damian had built this entire life on a foundation of silence, keeping the truth of the contract tucked away where she could never find it. The butler looked down at the child in his arms, wondering how much of this storm the little boy understood.
The moment the heavy front door clicked shut behind Alina, the atmosphere shifted.
Elena moved toward Damian like she was stepping back onto a stage she had never truly left. She began to smooth her tangled, brown hair with her fingers, a gleam of cruel expectation in her eyes.
