Milan’s jaw clenched. “What did she say?”
Jade exhaled shakily. “She told me to quit working for you and the others. She said I’d regret staying and that I don’t belong in your world.”
Enzo and Thiago appeared behind Milan, their expressions darkening as they overheard.
“She called you?” Enzo asked, his tone low and dangerous.
“Yeah,” Jade said, holding up her phone. “I don’t know how she got my number.”
Thiago’s eyes flashed with anger. “That’s it. This woman has gone too far.”
“She’s trying to rattle you,” Milan said, his voice calm but deadly. “Don’t let her.”
Jade’s frustration boiled over. “It’s easy for you to say! She’s not calling you and threatening to ruin your life.”
Milan stepped closer, his voice softening but losing none of its intensity. “I know it’s hard, Jade. But you have to trust us. We’ll handle Vivienne.”
“How?” Jade asked, her voice rising. “She’s clearly not afraid of you.”
“She will be,” Enzo said coldly, his expression hard. “She’s messing with the wrong people.”
Jade looked between them, her emotions swirling. Part of her wanted to believe they could protect her, but another part was terrified that Vivienne’s threats would only escalate.
“Let’s go back to the villa,” Milan said, his hand resting lightly on her arm. “We’ll talk more there.”
Jade nodded reluctantly, her appetite gone. As they left the restaurant, Vivienne’s words echoed in her mind.
Back at the villa, Jade’s phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn’t a call—it was a photo of her walking out of the restaurant with the men, captioned: “Still not listening, I see.”
***
The ride back to the villa was tense. Jade sat in the car, staring out the window, her thoughts a tangled mess. The men were silent, the air between them heavy with unspoken tension. Milan’s sharp features were unreadable as he stared straight ahead, while Enzo and Thiago exchanged occasional glances, their jaws tight.
When they arrived at the villa, Jade hesitated before stepping inside. The luxurious space, which had felt so welcoming earlier, now seemed like a cage. She turned to Milan, who was already walking toward the living room.
“Milan,” she called, her voice firm despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. “We need to talk.”
Milan stopped, his back straightening as if he had been expecting this. Without a word, he motioned for her to follow. Enzo and Thiago trailed behind, their faces still dark with frustration.
Once they were all seated, Jade crossed her arms and faced Milan. “What’s really going on with Vivienne? Why is she targeting me, and why is she so hellbent on ruining your life?”
Milan sighed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. For a moment, he seemed almost weary, a rare crack in his otherwise unshakable demeanor. “It’s a long story, but you deserve to know the truth.”
“Good,” Jade said, her tone sharp. “Because I’m tired of being left in the dark.”
Milan glanced at Enzo and Thiago before turning his attention back to Jade. “Vivienne and I were together years ago, long before I had the empire I have now. Back then, I was still building it—making deals, establishing connections, and gaining traction. Vivienne was part of my life, but she didn’t help me build anything. She was just… there.”
Jade frowned. “Then why does she claim she helped you?”
“Because she’s manipulative,” Milan said bluntly. “She knew how to play the part of the supportive partner when it suited her. But the truth is, she was never invested in my success—she was only invested in what she could gain from it.”
Thiago chimed in, his tone biting. “She wanted the lifestyle, not the work. The moment things got tough, she showed her true colors.”
Milan nodded. “The breaking point came when I found out she was cheating on me.”
Jade’s eyebrows shot up. “Cheating on you? With who?”