Engaged to the billionaire by arrangement

ded message had just come through, a warning he knew well. It was Ethan, one of the greatest digital spies in his

k, or that she would be too weak to face the empire he had built. But there she was, more formidable than ever. Far from being a simple spectator, she was the mi

was not an official file, but a set of personal notes, research on Althea, her origins, her connections, her flaws. The informa

im through the smallest bit of information to understand the depth of the transformation she had undergone. Althea hadn't just disapp

ore than an informant's tip. But the content was enough to sow doubt. The affair, which dated back several months, had been carefully camouflaged, with millions of euros hidden through a ta

ciphered. The mere fact that it was published without any clue as to the source only increased its power. Within an hour, the stock mark

he impact of a rumor. But he also knew that he could not ignore this provocation. This time the situation was different.

world of lies, pretense, and corruption. She had left him for three long years to disappear into the shadows. But that night, she had returned with a clear goal: to take down Damian Crowe, o

ying was not a simple settling of scores. No, it was calculated revenge, vengeance of implacable power. She was no longer this fragi

as the work of a hacker, but the results were undeniable. It was a sweet and subtle victory. The machine was launched. Damian

mbitious as he was opportunistic, tried to approach Althea. Lucien was not the type of man to act in the shadows, preferring the light and strategic all

er about negotiations. No, he wanted to convince her to help him, to use him as a piece in her own game. A game that Damian wouldn't be able to understand

u, a detached, almost amused air. Lucien took his p

this time," he said in a honeyed voice, his hand ge

didn'

ou're here this evening. You

him, a slight s

uval. But know that I don't do

sten. But he felt a change in the air, a palpable tension that confused him. Althe

a more insistent tone. Damian is a dangerous man. You know wh

him for a momen

harply. You are nothing in my eyes, Lucien. If I

yes. He understood that this woman was not an ally who could be

ll appeared, but this time he had changed his tone. The warning was clear: Althea had manipulated the situation to perfection. He had underestimated her, and

no longer had time to play. He had to confront

get answers. And this time, he woul