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The fireworks bloomed overhead, showering white and gold sparks across the dark bay, but Clara’s eyes were locked on Aldo Falconee’s right coat pocket. / Chapter 3 / 10

Chapter 3 - The Blood Oath Revealed"Is that true, Aldo?" Adrienne stepped around the desk, his footsteps echoing like slow hammer strikes. He stopped two feet away from the bound man. "Last year’s ambush on the docks. The one that put three of my best captains in the ground. You were the leak?"

Aldo laughed again, louder this time, throwing his head back. "Leak? You arrogant little bastard, I wasn't the leak. I was the architect. The Falconee family didn't want a marriage of equals, Adrienne. We wanted a hostile takeover. Vivien was supposed to be the honey trap, and I was supposed to be the clean-up crew once you let your guard down tonight!"

The library door banged open. Vivien Falconee stood on the threshold, her white wedding dress stained with dust from the panic, her face stark white.

"Uncle Aldo... what are you saying?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Stay back, child," Aldo snarled. "Your father knew. We all knew. The Marquettis were getting too big, too ambitious. This wedding was a funeral in disguise."

Vivien staggered backward, clutching the doorframe. Her eyes locked onto Adrienne, and for the first time, Clara saw pure, unadulterated terror in the bride’s face—not just fear of the violence, but fear of what Adrienne would do to her family now.

Adrienne didn't look at Vivien. His eyes remained fixed on Aldo. A cold, terrifying smile touched the corners of his mouth.

"My mother fired this girl this morning because she broke an antique vase," Adrienne whispered softly. "My mother called her useless. A thief. A pest." He slowly turned his head to look at Clara, his expression unreadable. "And yet, the mother who birthed me, and the wife I just married, brought a viper into my house. While the only person protecting my life was the maid I treated like dirt."

Adrienne drew a heavy silver-plated pistol from his waistband, the metal gleaming in the lamplight.

"Wait," Clara breathed, taking a half-step forward. "Don't do it here. Not now."

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"Why, Clara?" Adrienne asked, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. "Are you worried about the mess?"

"No," Clara said, her voice steadying as she met his gaze head-on. "Because killing him here gives his family an excuse to finish what he started. If you want to survive what’s coming, you don't kill him in the dark. You use him."

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