POV: Cassian
I'm at the airport when Thane calls.
"Where are you?" he demands. "We're supposed to be on the jet in ten minutes."
I stare at the mysterious text on my phone: Meet me at Gate 47. Come alone. Don't tell Thane or Dorian.
"I'll be there," I lie. "Just got held up in traffic."
"Cassian—"
I hang up before he can hear the announcement speakers in the background.
I know this is stupid. I know meeting some anonymous person who claims to have secrets about Brielle is probably a trap. But what if it's not? What if there's something we don't know? Something that changes everything?
I find Gate 47. It's empty except for one woman sitting in the corner, her back to me.
"Hello?" I call out.
She turns around, and my stomach drops.
Vivienne.
"You," I snarl, already turning to leave.
"Wait!" She jumps up. "I know you hate me. I know what I did was horrible. But you need to hear this before you go to Milan."
"I'm not interested in anything you have to—"
"Brielle's been lying to you." Vivienne's voice is desperate. "About everything. Her whole life. And if you go after her without knowing the truth, you'll regret it."
I freeze. "What are you talking about?"
"Sit down. Please. Five minutes. That's all I'm asking."
Every instinct screams at me to walk away. But curiosity—and fear—keeps me rooted to the spot.
I sit. "Talk. Fast."
Vivienne pulls out her phone and shows me a document. "This is Brielle's grandmother's will. The real one. Do you know what it says?"
"That Brielle inherited money. So what?"
"Not just money. Controlling interest in SaintClair Holdings. Fifty-one percent of a multibillion-dollar company." Vivienne's eyes gleam. "She's been the primary heir this whole time. And she never told any of you."
My heart stops. "That's impossible. Her father runs the company."
"Her father runs it because she didn't know she owned it. But her grandmother left instructions. Documents. Everything Brielle would need to take over." Vivienne leans closer. "Don't you see? She's been planning this. The whole 'poor heartbroken princess' act was just a cover. She wanted an excuse to disappear, discover her power, and come back to destroy all of you."
"You're insane," I say, but my voice sounds weak even to me.
"Am I? Then explain why she ran to Milan—a fashion capital where she could build connections. Explain why she already has a job at Moretti Fashion House. Explain why she's been researching corporate takeovers." Vivienne shows me more documents on her phone. "She's not running away, Cassian. She's planning revenge."
I stare at the evidence. It looks real. But Brielle wouldn't—she's not—
"She played you," Vivienne says softly. "She played all of you. Made you think she was weak and heartbroken when really she was just waiting for the perfect excuse to take everything."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I'm trying to save you from making a huge mistake." She actually looks sincere. "I know you love her. All three of you do. But she doesn't love you back. She never did. She's been using you this whole time."
My phone buzzes. Thane: Where the hell are you? We're leaving in 5 minutes with or without you.
I look at Vivienne. At her phone with all that evidence. At the possibility that everything I thought I knew about Brielle is wrong.
"I need to think," I say finally.
"There's no time to think! Her father's on his way to Milan right now. He knows about the shares. He's going to have her arrested for theft."
"What?"
"He's claiming she manipulated her grandmother. Stole the inheritance. If you don't get there first—if you don't warn her—she's going to jail."
I stand up, my mind racing. "You expect me to believe you care about helping Brielle?"
"I don't care about Brielle. I care about you." Vivienne grabs my arm. "Please, Cassian. Don't go to Milan. Don't get caught up in her mess. She's not who you think she is."
I pull away. "You're right about one thing. I do need to warn her."
"Cassian—"
"But not because I think she's guilty. Because I know she's not." I head for the exit. "Whatever game you're playing, I'm not interested."
I'm halfway to Thane's jet when my phone rings. Unknown number. Again.
I'm about to ignore it when something makes me answer.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Hale?" A woman's voice. Professional. Italian accent. "This is Adriana Moretti. We spoke earlier about Elle Winters?"
My pulse quickens. "Yes?"
"I'm calling because something very strange just happened. Ms. Winters was in a meeting when the police arrived. They tried to arrest her for corporate theft."
"What? Is she okay?"
"That's the strange part. She didn't seem surprised. It was like she was expecting it. She had lawyers ready. Documents. Everything she needed to prove the charges were false." Adriana pauses. "Mr. Hale, who is Elle Winters really? Because I don't think she's just a consultant."
"It's complicated."
"Well, it's about to get more complicated. Because while she was dealing with the police, three men showed up claiming to be her fiancés. They're all in my conference room right now, shouting at each other."
Three men? "Wait—three? Who's the third?"
"I don't know. He arrived after the other two. Dark hair, kind eyes. He said his name was Dorian."
Dorian's in Milan? When did he—
"Are they still there?" I ask urgently.
"Yes, but—Mr. Hale, are you on your way? Because Ms. Winters specifically said if you called, I should tell you not to come."
"She said that?"
"Her exact words were: 'Tell Cassian Hale that I don't need him, I don't want him, and if he shows up here, I'll have security throw him out.'"
Each word is a knife to the chest. But underneath the pain, I hear something else. Fear. Brielle's scared.
And when Brielle's scared, she attacks first.
"Tell her I'm coming anyway," I say. "And tell her I'm not leaving until she hears the truth."
I hang up and run for the jet. Thane's going to kill me for being late. But that doesn't matter.
What matters is getting to Brielle before her father destroys her.
I board the plane. Thane glares at me from his seat.
"You're late."
"I know. I'm sorry. I got—" I pause. Do I tell him about Vivienne? About the accusations?
"Spit it out," Thane demands.
"Vivienne tried to stop me from coming. Said Brielle's been planning this whole thing. That she's not really heartbroken, just manipulative."
Thane's expression doesn't change. "Do you believe her?"
"No. But—" I sink into my seat. "What if we don't really know Brielle at all? What if she's been hiding things from us?"
"Of course she's been hiding things." Thane buckles his seatbelt. "Her grandmother left her controlling interest in the company. She discovered she's more powerful than anyone knew. And instead of telling us, she ran."
"You knew?"
"I figured it out an hour ago. Her father's in Milan trying to have her arrested for theft. Which means she owns something he wants." Thane's smile is cold. "I'm actually impressed. Our little princess has claws."
"But why didn't she tell us? Why run instead of—"
"Because she doesn't trust us," Thane says flatly. "And can you blame her? We spent eight years lying about our feelings. She probably thought we'd try to use her power against her."
The plane starts moving. I stare out the window as New York disappears below us.
Thane's right. We broke her trust. And now she's protecting herself the only way she knows how.
By pushing us away.
My phone buzzes one more time. A text from a number I don't recognize:
You're making a mistake going to Milan. But since you won't listen, here's some free advice: Brielle's not the only one with secrets. Ask Thane about the real reason his parents died. Ask Dorian why he really refused to marry her. And ask yourself why you're so desperate to save a girl who clearly doesn't want to be saved. - A Friend Who's Trying to Help
I stare at the message. Look at Thane, who's typing furiously on his laptop. Think about Dorian, who somehow got to Milan before us.
What secrets are they keeping?
"Thane," I say carefully. "Your parents' death. You said it was corporate sabotage. But was there more to it?"
He goes very still. "Why are you asking?"
"Just... tell me the truth. Please."
Thane sets down his laptop. His ice-blue eyes meet mine. "They were murdered because someone found out about Brielle. About how much she meant to me. They used her as bait to lure my parents into a trap."
My blood runs cold. "Brielle knows this?"
"No. And she can't ever know. If she found out people died because of her—" His voice breaks. "It would destroy her."
"But if she's in danger now—"
"She's ALWAYS been in danger!" Thane's control shatters. "Don't you understand? Everyone I've ever loved becomes a target! That's why I kept my distance! That's why I hid my feelings! And now she's in Milan, alone, with her father trying to frame her and God knows who else coming after her power!"
The plane levels out. We're in the air now. No turning back.
"We'll protect her," I say, trying to sound confident.
"From what? Her own family? Corporate assassins? Herself?" Thane laughs bitterly. "She doesn't want our protection, Cassian. She wants us gone."
My phone buzzes again. This time it's a photo.
Brielle—Elle—standing outside Moretti Fashion House. And next to her, with his hand on her shoulder, looking way too comfortable...
Is that who I think it is?
"Thane," I say slowly. "Do you know anyone named Alessandro Moretti?"
"No. Why?"
I show him the photo. "Because he's with Brielle right now. And judging by her smile, she knows him pretty well."
Thane's face goes white. Then red. "Find out everything you can about him. Now."
We're still two hours from Milan.
Two hours for Brielle to get closer to a man we've never heard of.
Two hours to wonder if we're already too late.