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"Lock every gate, seal every exit, and cut the main grid to manual," I barked, my voice cutting through the heavy air of the ballroom like a razor. / Chapter 5 / 20

Chapter 5 - The Snake in the Silk Suit

My mind reeled. "My mother? She's paralyzed. She can barely speak!"

"She was never paralyzed, Dominic," a sharp, echoing voice spoke from the shadows behind the study bookshelf.

A hidden wall panel slid back with a low hiss. Stepping out of the darkness was a woman dressed in flawless black silk, carrying an iron-tipped cane.

Victoria Moretti.

Ethan gasped and hid behind Sophia.

"Mother," I breathed, my gun instantly drawing and pointing straight at her chest. "You're supposed to be in Zurich."

"Zurich was a convenient lie to keep you focused on building our fortune while I handled the real threats," Victoria said, her eyes cold as flint. She glanced at Julian, then at Ethan, showing zero maternal warmth.

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