The charity gala was a masterpiece of wealth and power, draped in excess and masked civility.
Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting golden light on the elite of the mafia world. The grand ballroom hummed with laughter, expensive champagne flowing freely, and whispered deals being struck behind the illusion of sophistication.
Loreley moved through the sea of silk and diamonds with the grace of someone who had learned how to command a room without uttering a word.
She was dressed in deep emerald, the color bold against the sea of blacks and golds around her. Every glance she attracted was one of admiration or wariness—either way, it meant she was seen.
And being seen was half the battle. But she wasn't here for admiration.
She was here for war.
Loreley spotted Brooks before Brooks spotted her.
The blonde stood near the center of the room, draped in a white gown that hugged her growing pregnancy bump like a crown of victory.
She was surrounded by women who clung to her every word, nodding at her well-placed remarks and laughing at jokes Loreley was certain weren't funny.
She looked comfortable. Untouchable.
Loreley smirked. That won't last long.
She made her way toward the bar, fully aware that Brooks had caught sight of her.
The moment was inevitable. Like a collision waiting to happen.
Brooks broke away from her circle, approaching with a deliberate slowness, a smirk painted on her lips.
"Loreley," she purred, tilting her head in mock surprise. "I wasn't expecting to see you here. Then again, I suppose charity events do need their cautionary tales."
Loreley's smile didn't falter. "Brooks," she greeted smoothly. "Still mistaking jewelry for power, I see."
Brooks' eyes gleamed with malice. "No, darling, I mistook you for someone who mattered once." She placed a protective hand over her stomach. "But look at how things turned out."
Loreley's fingers twitched, but she kept her expression calm.
Brooks stepped closer, voice dipping into something quieter, deadlier. "You must hate this," she murmured. "Seeing me win. Seeing me with everything that was supposed to be yours."
Loreley let out a soft chuckle, taking a sip of her champagne. "It's funny," she mused. "You say you have everything, yet you're still so afraid of me."
Brooks' smirk faltered.
Loreley leaned in just slightly, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Tell me, does Zayden know that the child you're carrying isn't his?"
Brooks' entire body went still.
Loreley savored the moment—the way Brooks' fingers tensed against her glass, the way her breath caught in her throat, the way her carefully constructed mask of arrogance cracked.
Brooks recovered quickly, but not quickly enough. "I don't know what you're talking about," she hissed.
Loreley arched her brow. "Don't you?"
She took a slow sip of her drink, allowing the silence to stretch between them.
Then, with a deliberate smile, she placed her glass down and leaned in closer.
"If you don't want the entire world to know what you've been doing behind closed doors, I'd suggest you rethink threatening me," Loreley whispered.
Brooks' breath hitched.
"Stay out of my way, Brooks," Loreley continued, her voice like silk wrapped around steel. "Or I'll make sure your perfect life burns to the ground."
Brooks swallowed, her throat bobbing. "You wouldn't."
Loreley smirked. "Try me."
And then, she turned, walking away before Brooks could gather the courage to reply.
Loreley could feel his gaze before she even turned around.
Zayden stood at the far end of the ballroom, watching her with the intensity of a man who saw everything.
His expression was unreadable, but there was something sharp in his eyes—something calculating.
He had seen her exchange with Brooks. And now, he was curious.
Good.
Let him wonder. Let him doubt.
She gave him a slow, knowing smile before disappearing into the crowd.
Later that night, Loreley returned to the Moretti estate, her mind buzzing with possibilities.
She had Brooks exactly where she wanted her—afraid. And fear made people sloppy.
But there was one more conversation she needed to have.
She found Liliana in the upstairs sitting room, curled up with a book, her delicate features tense with unspoken worry.
"Loreley?" Liliana looked up as she entered.
"We need to talk," Loreley said, shutting the door behind her.
Liliana frowned. "That's never a good start."
Loreley took a breath, choosing her words carefully. "It's about Luka."
Liliana stiffened. "What about him?"
Loreley hesitated for half a second before deciding on the truth. "He's been working against us."
Liliana's book slid from her fingers, landing on the table with a dull thud. "What?"
Loreley sat across from her, voice steady. "He's been sabotaging our father's business. And it's because of Brooks."
Liliana's face twisted in disgust. "She's using him."
"She's blackmailing him."
Liliana exhaled sharply, gripping the arms of her chair. "And what has our dear brother done to stop this?"
Loreley leaned back, crossing her legs. "Nothing."
Liliana shook her head, her expression hardening. "Then he's weak."
Loreley watched her sister carefully. "What do you want to do?"
Liliana's lips curled into something bitter. "Luka made his choice." Her gaze darkened. "Maybe it's time we stop protecting him."
Loreley nodded slowly. "I agree."
A quiet moment passed between them, something final settling in the air.
A weak voice from the hallway. "...Loreley?"
Both sisters turned, their hearts lurching in tandem.
Their mother stood in the doorway, her frail body supported by the frame, her breathing shallow.
Loreley shot up from her seat. "Mamma—you shouldn't be out of bed."
Their mother's eyes, though weak, burned with something fierce. "What... what have you done?"
Liliana stiffened. "You should rest."
But their mother wasn't listening. She took a shaking step forward. "You're turning against your own brother?"
Loreley felt something twist in her chest, something dangerously close to guilt.
Their mother's voice trembled. "Luka is family."
Loreley swallowed hard. "And so are we."
Her mother's lips parted, but no more words came.
Only silence. Only the weight of disappointment in her eyes.
Loreley exhaled slowly, gripping the back of her chair.
She wasn't wrong. She knew she wasn't wrong. But somehow—
Her mother's pain still cut deeper than it should have.
Liliana's voice was the first to break the tension. "He betrayed us first."
Their mother swayed slightly, pressing a hand to her chest. Loreley moved without thinking, catching her before she could fall.
"Enough," Loreley murmured, her voice softer now. "We'll talk about this later."
Their mother sagged against her, too weak to argue. Liliana watched them for a long moment before nodding.
Loreley helped their mother back to bed, but long after the house had gone quiet, she sat awake, staring at the ceiling.
For the first time in years, doubt whispered at the edges of her mind.
Has she gone too far?
Or not far enough?