At this moment, Viktor's words echoed in her ears: "You have created a psychological vulnerability for Dmitry."
Jasmine understood that Viktor wanted to exploit Dmitry's personal and emotional weakness more than his financial or military one. Dmitry's frantic obsession centering on Maria and Jasmine was Viktor's primary weapon. Jasmine now had to strike at this mental vulnerability.
The intense similarity between Dmitry and Viktor's faces, and Viktor's strategy, spun in Jasmine's head. She quickly decided that before striking at Dmitry's mental weakness, she must confront a part of her own past related to Maria's death.
While driving, Jasmine was suddenly submerged in a vivid flashback. The time was a few months ago, the day Jasmine carried out the biggest revenge of her life.
Flashback: Maria's Death
Location: A luxurious, yet secluded beachfront resort. Late at night.
Jasmine stood outside the room of her target, Maria. Maria still trusted Jasmine, unaware that her "trusted friend" was actually her cousin. Today, Jasmine was no longer just a model or a spy—she was a judge, ready to take revenge for the dishonor of her family.
Maria was on the room's balcony, drinking wine while facing the sea. Maria's smile was the smile that had destroyed Jasmine's family.
Jasmine silently entered the room. She held no gun or knife; her weapon was speed and poison. A special chemical that causes death mimicking a heart attack, nearly undetectable in forensic examinations.
Maria was happy to see Jasmine. "Jessie! You? So late!"
Jasmine slowly approached Maria. Maria moved forward to embrace her. It was at that exact moment...
Jasmine pressed a small hypodermic needle hidden in her fingertip onto the spot just below Maria's neck. It happened so fast that Maria didn't notice a thing.
Maria, still smiling, stepped back, "What's wrong? Why so serious?"
Jasmine's eyes were stone-cold. "It's time to be serious, Maria."
Maria shook her head. In an instant, her face turned pale. The wine glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.
"Wha... What's happening?" Maria whispered.
"Your sins are being judged," Jasmine replied. "Because of you, my mother, my father... my family is ruined. You took away my sister's husband, you destroyed her life. I couldn't forgive you, Maria."
Maria's eyes widened. She recognized Jasmine's face, but it was too late. The poison had started to affect her heart. Maria tried to say something for the last time, but only a mournful cry escaped her mouth.
Maria fell to the floor. Her death was fast, quiet, and from an external view, it would seem like a natural cardiac arrest.
Jasmine didn't look back once. She quickly left the room, as if she had never sensed Maria's presence. She locked Maria's room door and left the resort as if she was just another guest.
Reality
The moment the flashback ended, Jasmine's breathing hastened. Her hands clenched tight. She had murdered Maria—it was the hardest and most inevitable task of her life.
But what would happen to her if this information fell into the hands of Viktor or Dmitry now? Did Viktor know the truth behind Maria's death? Did Ziyaisko know?
Jasmine quickly drove toward the entrance of the fortress. She had to quickly uncover Dmitry's weakness before her own past was exposed.Jasmine was nearing the entrance of the fortress when her eyes caught a glimpse of an extremely expensive car. The flashback of Maria's death was fresh in her mind. Just then, she saw a black Bentley Continental GT speeding into the parking lot.
The car parked right in front of Jasmine's S.U.V. Jasmine had a clear idea about this car and its driver. It was not a vehicle belonging to an ordinary guest or employee. It symbolized the man whose rage and emotion currently controlled the entire Volga Empire.
Jasmine immediately realized who had returned so late: Ziyaisko.
Dmitry was expected late at night, and Viktor was somewhere else. Only Ziyaisko, whose mood and movements were always erratic, could enter the fortress so dramatically. Ziyaisko's black Bentley was a part of his display of arrogance and power.
But why did Ziyaisko return so quickly? Jasmine had just sent him a message to stay calm. Did her message, perhaps, excite Ziyaisko even faster?
Jasmine's face hardened. She prepared herself to face Ziyaisko. She wanted to finish this game before the truth behind Maria's death became known.
Then the car door opens and Ziyaisko smiles.
Ziyaisko stepped out of the Bentley. His attire was impeccable and expensive, but his eyes held a wild, calculating smile. Jasmine's message had the opposite effect on him—instead of calming down, he became more agitated and came to see Jasmine.
Ziyaisko removed his dark glasses and walked towards Jasmine. There was no sincerity in his smile, only a challenge.
"Jessie," Ziyaisko said, "You told me to stay calm? I thought perhaps you needed help right now."
He hadn't really come to help; he had come to assert his control over Jasmine. He showed that the code Jasmine gave him couldn't keep him quiet. He could confront Jasmine anytime.
Jasmine opened her S.U.V.'s door and slowly walked towards Ziyaisko. Her eyes were steady and slightly annoyed.
"I didn't need your help, Ziyaisko," Jasmine said calmly. "I needed time. And you wasted that time."
Jasmine's words struck Ziyaisko's ego. He quickly moved closer to Jasmine.
Ziyaisko pulls Jasmin close, "Your scent..."
Ziyaisko leaned closer to her face and sniffed her wet hair. "Your wet hair... muddy clothes... where were you, Jessie? Were you trying to run away from my brother?"
Jasmine quickly removed Ziyaisko's hand from her shoulder.
"I came back to fuel your curiosity," Jasmine said. "I know you want to protect me. But your brother loves me. If you try to remove him, the situation will get worse."
Ziyaisko chuckled. "Does Dmitry really love you? Or does he love another reflection like Maria? You look exactly like Maria now, Jessie."
These words were a fatal blow to Jasmine. Jasmine knew Dmitry's love was fake. But being compared to Maria was intolerable to her. Maria was her victim.
Jasmine now challenged Ziyaisko.
"I don't know," Jasmin said. "I saw one thing after Maria's death..."
Jasmine leaned towards Ziyaisko, her voice now a whisper. "Maria is dead, Ziyaisko. She is gone now. But Dmitry's love for her still exists. If you try to remove him, you will be hurting that love."
Ziyaisko's smile faded. Maria's death was his brother's biggest weakness. Ziyaisko realized that Jasmine had grasped where his true vulnerability lay.
"Do you really want to help me, Ziyaisko?" Jasmine asked directly. "Then go back. Give me time to work on Dmitry. And I promise you, when this game is over, you will get something much more powerful than Dmitry."
Jasmine tried to manipulate Ziyaisko with her power and information. Ziyaisko stood motionless, staring at Jasmine for a few moments. His wild eyes now showed calculation.
"Okay, Jessie. I trust you. But don't take too long," Ziyaisko whispered.
Ziyaisko quickly got into his Bentley and sped away from the location. Jasmine sighed in relief. She had temporarily controlled a mafia boss. But she had no more time. Dmitry could return at any moment.
Jasmine quickly entered the fortress. Maria's death, Viktor's proposal, and Dmitry's psychological vulnerability—everything now demanded a final plan.