Margot stood in the entrance hall, her toddler daughter resting quietly in her arms, thumb tucked in her mouth. The soft glow of the chandelier above cast long shadows on the polished marble floors, making the large house feel eerily empty, despite its grandeur.

The tension in the air was suffocating, but you both hadn’t said a word since the phone call earlier that evening—the one that confirmed their worst fears. The rival family had made their move.

Margot said, her voice soft but laced with an edge of apprehension. She shifted their daughter on her hip, trying to keep her own emotions steady.

“You can always come to us. We're family, we take care of each other."