Ife learned quickly that Julian's mercy had rules.
She was no longer locked inside a room, but the freedom felt worse. Doors were open, yet always watched. Guards followed at a distance—never close enough to touch her, never far enough to forget.
A beautiful prison.
She stood on the balcony that morning, Lagos stretching endlessly beyond the walls. Life went on outside. Horns blared. Laughter floated faintly from the street.
Inside, everything was silent.
"You didn't sleep," Ada said gently, setting a tray beside her.
Ife didn't turn. "Neither did you."
Ada smiled sadly. "No."
Ife wrapped her arms around herself. "How long?"
Ada hesitated. "That depends on you."
Ife finally faced her. "On what you want me to say to him."
Ada didn't deny it.
Julian wanted Arden to break quietly.
And Ife was the pressure point.
Across the city, Arden did not sleep at all.
He sat on the edge of the bed in the safe house, staring at the wall like it might explain how everything had gone wrong so fast.
Victor stood nearby, arms crossed, eyes heavy with exhaustion and guilt.
"She chose this," Victor said softly.
Arden's voice was hollow. "She chose me."
Victor sighed. "And that's why Julian took her."
Arden clenched his fists. His knuckles were still bruised. Blood dried along his collarbone.
"I should've stayed," Arden said.
Victor shook his head. "You would be dead."
"At least I'd be with her."
Victor didn't respond.
Arden stood abruptly and began pacing. "He's going to try to reshape her. Convince her I'm the danger."
Victor leaned against the table. "Julian doesn't need her to hate you."
Arden stopped. "Then what does he want?"
Victor met his gaze. "You to surrender."
Arden laughed bitterly. "He doesn't know me at all."
Julian watched Ife from across the room that evening as she read the same page of a book for the fourth time.
"You always stare at the door when you're anxious," he said calmly.
She stiffened but didn't look up. "You watch too closely."
"That's how I stay alive."
She closed the book. "You didn't bring me here to chat."
Julian nodded. "True."
He walked closer, stopping a careful distance away. "Arden will keep coming."
She lifted her chin. "Good."
Julian smiled faintly. "Each time he does, more people die."
Her chest tightened. "That's your doing."
"And his refusal to adapt."
She stood. "You want me to tell him to stop."
"I want you to convince him," Julian corrected. "There's a difference."
Her voice trembled. "And if I don't?"
Julian's gaze sharpened. "Then the war becomes louder."
She swallowed. "You promised not to hurt him."
Julian's tone cooled. "I promised not to kill him."
The distinction made her stomach turn.
Later that night, Victor appeared in the hallway outside Ife's room.
Ada glanced at him sharply. "You're not cleared to be here."
Victor leaned close, lowering his voice. "Julian cleared me. Five minutes."
Ada hesitated, then stepped aside.
Victor knocked once before entering.
Ife looked up sharply. "You?"
"I'm not here to apologize," Victor said quietly. "Not yet."
Her eyes hardened. "You should be."
"I know."
He shut the door behind him. "Julian thinks you're leverage. He's wrong."
She scoffed. "He's right."
Victor shook his head. "You're influence."
She frowned. "What's the difference?"
"Leverage is passive," Victor said. "Influence moves things."
She stared at him. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because Arden won't stop," Victor replied. "And Julian won't back down."
She exhaled shakily. "So what's your plan?"
Victor hesitated, then spoke carefully. "To end this without turning Arden into a murderer."
Her heart skipped. "How?"
Victor met her eyes. "We make Julian believe he's winning."
The next day, Arden lost control.
News broke across international outlets—Julian Blackwood's investments under investigation. Shell companies exposed. Allies questioned.
Victor watched Arden throw his phone across the room.
"You did this," Arden snapped.
Victor nodded. "I leaked it."
"You said we'd move quietly."
"We are," Victor replied. "This is bait."
Arden ran a hand through his hair, frustration and fear tangling in his chest. "And if he retaliates?"
Victor's voice was steady. "He will."
Arden looked up sharply. "Then why—"
"Because Julian only reacts when he feels cornered," Victor said. "And when he reacts, he makes mistakes."
Arden's jaw clenched. "Ife is with him."
Victor nodded. "Which is why she's already ahead of us."
That evening, Ife sat across from Julian again, calmer this time.
"You were right," she said quietly.
Julian raised an eyebrow. "About?"
"Arden won't stop," she continued. "He'll burn himself down trying to reach me."
Julian studied her. "And you don't want that."
"No," she said softly. "I want him alive."
Julian leaned back. "Then help me end it."
She met his gaze, heart pounding. "What do you want?"
Julian smiled, satisfied. "A message. From you. Public."
Her breath caught. "You want me to denounce him."
"I want you to distance yourself," Julian said. "Convince the world—and Arden—that this ends now."
She hesitated, pain flashing across her face.
Julian softened his tone. "This is how you protect him."
She looked away, tears burning.
Somewhere in the city, Arden stared at his phone, waiting for a message that didn't come.
And in that quiet space between love and sacrifice, Ife made the hardest decision of her life.