That night, he felt something different.

As a man who ruled the underworld with a single command, he was used to reading a room in an instant—seeing who arrived with hidden intentions, who needed watching, who sought favor. But tonight, someone had captured his attention in an unusual way.

He watched as she stepped in, draped in a golden gown that shimmered under the crystal lights. She showed no hesitation, no uncertainty, as if she already understood the rules of the world he had built.

And he knew who she was.

Rafael’s former lover.

Many women had tried to enter his circle—through business, power, or sweet seduction. But this one was different. She was not just another guest. She was someone who had been wounded.

Yet vengeance was not what shone in her eyes.
He saw something far more dangerous. Ambition.

He remained seated, watching as she approached. A tension rippled through the crowd, an unspoken recognition that this was not a typical conversation. Even Rafael, standing just a few feet away, seemed displeased by what he saw.

Dario did not look away as she stopped before him.

"Courage like this is rare," he murmured, letting his words linger. "What is it you seek, little one?"

Her smile was subtle, mysterious. "Perhaps I simply wish to see the empire you’ve built, Mr. Dario."

He had heard countless words—lies, empty promises, desperate pleas for protection. Yet hers sounded different.

He studied her longer, letting the silence stretch between them before he finally spoke.

"Anyone who enters this world must understand one rule." His voice dipped into something quieter, more dangerous. "You do not leave unscathed."

He expected something—a flicker of doubt, hesitation, a crack in her confidence. But she only smiled wider, her eyes holding something that made the night shift in ways he had not foreseen.

"Who said I ever intended to leave?"

Dario felt a strange pull within him—something unfamiliar, something that should not be there.

From across the room, Rafael watched.

The game had begun. But this time, Dario was no longer certain who truly held control.