Chapter 20 The Gathering Storm

• The city skyline blurred past as Ethan drove, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. Beside him, Sophia sat tense, her mind racing with the implications of Victoria’s message. The warning was clear: Victoria was ready to strike back, and she wasn’t going to hold anything back. But what form would her retaliation take? How far was she willing to go to protect her empire?
• Sophia’s phone buzzed again, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced down, expecting another message from Victoria, but instead, it was from Lily.
• *Sophia, I’m scared. There are strange people outside the house. What’s going on?*