The mansion felt hollow as soon as the door closed behind Alexander. The quiet that followed was deafening, a stark contrast to the chaos brewing outside. Eva stood motionless in the foyer, her fingers curled tightly around the fabric of her dress. She didn't know what to do with herself. The hours seemed to stretch endlessly, each second more suffocating than the last.
She wanted to believe that Alexander would come back safe, that the promise he made to her wasn't just a sweet lie to calm her fears. But a part of her—deep down, the part that had learned to survive in a world like this—knew better.
The rain outside beat against the windows, a constant reminder of the storm that raged both inside and outside the walls of the mansion. The very air felt heavy with anticipation, like a storm waiting to burst. And then, a sound shattered the stillness—a sharp knock at the door.
Eva's heart leaped in her chest. She rushed to answer it, half-expecting it to be Alexander returning, or perhaps one of his men with news. But when she opened the door, it wasn't them.
Standing in the doorway was Olivia.
Her face was pale, her lips set in a grim line. The coldness in her eyes sent a chill through Eva, but she couldn't bring herself to turn her away.
"What do you want?" Eva's voice was steady, though her pulse quickened at the sight of the woman who had once been Alexander's wife.
Olivia stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, her gaze sweeping the room with practiced indifference. "I came to warn you," she said, her tone flat and emotionless. "You think you're safe here, don't you? That Alexander will protect you."
Eva crossed her arms defensively, a part of her wanting to shut the door in Olivia's face, but she resisted. "What's this really about, Olivia?"
Olivia's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "You're in way over your head, Eva. You think Alexander's love for you will protect you from this? He's just as trapped as you are. You may not see it yet, but you will."
Eva's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't need to hear Olivia's venomous words to know the truth—that she was in the eye of a storm that was rapidly escalating.
"James isn't the only one you should be worried about," Olivia continued, her voice turning colder. "There are bigger players involved now. And Alexander has no idea how deep the mess he's in really goes."
"What do you mean?" Eva's voice was barely a whisper, though the fear was thick in her throat.
Olivia's eyes gleamed with a cruel satisfaction. "Let's just say… Alexander isn't the only one with enemies. And if you think his father's death was an accident, you're terribly mistaken. There are people who will stop at nothing to destroy him, and you, by extension."
A wave of nausea washed over Eva. The pieces were starting to fall into place, but they made no sense. Alexander had always been in control, always the one with the power. How could anyone threaten him?
Olivia took a step closer, her gaze never leaving Eva's. "You think you're so special, don't you? That you're different from the others he's been with. But you're not. He'll choose you—yes, for now. But once this is over, once this war is done, you'll be nothing more than a casualty in a game you don't even understand."
Eva flinched at the coldness in her voice, but she refused to back down. "I don't believe you."
Olivia's smile widened, but there was no joy in it. "You will. Trust me."
With that, she turned and walked out the door without another word, leaving Eva standing there, trembling. The sense of dread that had been growing inside her now felt like an anchor around her heart.
What if Olivia was right? What if there were forces at play that neither she nor Alexander could control? The fear clung to Eva like a shadow, making it hard to breathe.
---
Meanwhile, Outside the Mansion
Alexander's men had been moving in silence for hours. Every step they took was calculated, every shadow watched, every noise scrutinized. The storm had intensified, the rain coming down in sheets as they made their way to James's hideout.
Alexander was at the head of the group, his usual confidence replaced with a deadly focus. This wasn't just a mission—it was personal.
"Ready?" Luca asked, his voice low, his eyes scanning the area.
Alexander nodded, his jaw clenched. "Let's move."
The men spread out, positioning themselves around the building where they believed James was holed up. They couldn't afford any mistakes.
Alexander's mind raced with a thousand thoughts—most of them centered around Eva. He knew this was dangerous. He knew this could be the turning point in everything. But he had no choice. He couldn't let James win. He couldn't let anyone take what he had built—and what he was fighting for.
As they breached the front door of the building, a barrage of gunfire erupted from the inside. The men ducked for cover, but Alexander stayed calm, moving with practiced precision. He knew the stakes had just been raised. This wasn't a negotiation anymore—it was a fight to the death.
---
Back at the Mansion
Eva's thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ring of her phone. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the caller ID—Alexander's personal number. Without hesitation, she answered it.
"Alexander?" Her voice was tight, the words coming out in a rush.
There was no answer.
A sudden crackling noise filled the line, followed by a low, ominous voice.
"Eva," the voice said, smooth and menacing. It was James.
Her blood turned cold. "What do you want?" she demanded, her grip tightening on the phone.
"You're a part of this now, Eva," James said with dark amusement. "And when the dust settles, you'll be the one left standing alone. It's only a matter of time."
Before she could respond, the line went dead.
Eva's heart hammered in her chest. James knew where she was. He knew everything.
---
At the Hideout
The firefight raged on as Alexander and his men fought their way deeper into the building. The sound of gunfire and shouting filled the air, but Alexander's focus remained unwavering. His eyes locked onto the door at the far end of the room. He knew James was behind it.
With one last burst of energy, he kicked the door open, his gun raised. But what he saw made his blood run cold.
James wasn't alone. And standing there, watching him, was someone who he never thought he would see again.
Olivia.
She was standing next to James, her eyes cold, calculating. And the look she gave him… it was pure malice.
"You've been played, Alexander," she said, her voice cutting through the silence. "Everything you've done, everything you've fought for… it was all part of my plan."