A full week passed. The fever finally broke, though the sharp, stabbing pain in her fractured ribs still flared with every deep breath. She stood alone in the massive walk-in closet of the guest room.

She stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror. Her face was pale, but her eyes were sharp and hard. She thought about the lies Cathi spread. She thought about Aidan's blood in the mud.

She reached onto the vanity and picked up a pair of heavy silver scissors. She grabbed her long, dark hair in one hand. Without blinking, she sliced the blades through the thick strands. She cut it all off until it fell just above her shoulders.

Mrs. Wallace pushed the door open, carrying a tray of breakfast. She saw the hair on the floor and froze in shock.

She turned around. Her face was completely calm. She looked at the housekeeper and said the weak girl named Tina died in the rain.

She stated her true name clearly. "From today on, there is only Evelena Valenzuela." She said she was reclaiming her birthright and would use her real name to take back everything that belonged to her.

That afternoon, Evelena decided she needed to leave the apartment. She needed clothes that fit her new identity.

Ingram was at the office. When Mrs. Wallace called him, he immediately dispatched two plainclothes security contractors to follow Evelena from a distance.

Evelena put on a pair of dark sunglasses and a simple black trench coat. She walked into a high-end luxury mall on Fifth Avenue.

She walked into a French couture boutique she used to visit with her mother. The saleswoman at the front immediately recognized her face.

The saleswoman remembered the tabloid articles. Her polite smile vanished. She looked Evelena up and down with obvious disgust and crossed her arms.

Evelena ignored the look. She walked straight toward a rack in the center of the store. She reached out to touch a deep blue velvet evening gown.

Before her fingers brushed the fabric, another hand shot out and yanked the dress away. The hand had bright red, acrylic nails.

A loud, annoying laugh filled the store. Felicia Roberts stepped out from behind the rack. She was wearing a tight designer dress and tapping her high heels loudly against the marble floor.

Felicia looked at Evelena's chopped hair. She laughed louder. She told Evelena she looked like a homeless rat sleeping on the subway.

Evelena endured the sharp ache in her ribs, refusing to show weakness. She did not look away. She did not shrink back. She stared directly into Felicia's eyes. Her gaze was as cold as ice.

Felicia felt a chill run down her arms. She hated that look. She wanted to humiliate her. She raised her voice so everyone in the store could hear.

Felicia yelled at the saleswoman. She asked why they let a known thief into the store. She said Evelena was kicked out of her family for stealing.

The wealthy women shopping in the store stopped. They turned around and started whispering. They pointed their manicured fingers at Evelena.

The saleswoman rushed over. She smiled apologetically at Felicia. Then she turned to Evelena and harshly told her to leave the premises immediately.

Evelena let out a short, cold laugh. She crossed her arms over her chest. She took one step closer to Felicia, invading her space.

She leaned in and spoke in a low voice. She told Felicia that no matter how much expensive trash she wore, she still smelled like a cheap, desperate gold digger.

Felicia's face turned bright red. Her eyes widened in fury. She raised her hand and swung it hard, aiming for Evelena's face.

Evelena was ready. Her hand shot up. She grabbed Felicia's wrist mid-air, ignoring the agonizing flare of pain shooting through her own broken ribs. She squeezed hard and twisted the joint sharply to the side, using pure willpower to fuel her strength.

Felicia screamed in pain. Her fingers opened. Her expensive leather handbag dropped to the floor, spilling lipstick and compacts everywhere.

Evelena pushed Felicia's arm away in disgust. She reached into her trench coat pocket. She pulled out a solid black metal card. She slammed it down onto the glass display counter right in front of the saleswoman.

It was the Centurion card Ingram had forced into her hand before she left. It bore the crest of the Santiago Corporation. It had no limit.

The saleswoman looked at the card. The color drained from her face. Her knees actually buckled. She knew exactly what that card meant. She bowed her head instantly and started stammering apologies.

The women whispering in the back saw the black card. They gasped. The looks of disgust turned into wide-eyed fear and respect.

Felicia rubbed her throbbing wrist. She stared at the black card. She screamed that it was impossible. She yelled that Evelena must have stolen it.

Evelena picked up the blue velvet dress from the counter. She threw it directly into Felicia's face. She told the saleswoman she didn't want it anymore because trash had touched it.

Evelena turned around. She walked toward the exit, her back straight, her chin held high.

Felicia ripped the dress off her face. She pointed a shaking finger at Evelena's back. She screamed that she was going to destroy her at the charity gala next week.

Evelena stopped at the door. She slowly turned her head. She looked at Felicia and smiled. It was a terrifying, empty smile.

She walked out of the store. The two hidden bodyguards fell into step behind her, leaving Felicia screaming in the middle of the boutique.

The sky over Wall Street was a heavy, depressing gray. Inside the top floor of the Santiago Corporation headquarters, the atmosphere was just as suffocating.

Ingram sat behind a massive desk made of solid black obsidian. His face was hard. He was listening to a group of senior executives sweat through a presentation about a European merger.

Palmer walked into the room. His footsteps made no sound on the carpet. He walked up to the desk and placed a highly encrypted tablet next to Ingram's hand.

Palmer leaned down. He whispered that the security team following Miss Evelena had just transmitted live footage from the mall.

Ingram raised his right hand. He did not say a word, but the executive who was speaking stopped mid-sentence. The entire room fell completely silent. No one dared to breathe.

Ingram tapped the screen. The video from the luxury boutique started playing.

He saw Evelena on the screen. Her new short hair made her look sharp. Her eyes were focused and deadly.

When Ingram saw Felicia raise her hand to slap Evelena, his blood ran cold. His eyes darkened into a violent, murderous glare. His thumb pressed hard against the edge of the tablet.

But then, the video showed Evelena catching the wrist. It showed her twisting it. It showed her slamming the black card onto the glass counter.

The murderous look in Ingram's eyes vanished. A wave of pure, intense satisfaction washed over him.

He thought she was a broken bird. He was wrong. She was a predator learning how to use her claws.

The corner of Ingram's mouth twitched. Then, it pulled up into a full, dark smile. A low chuckle escaped his throat.

The executives standing in the room felt the hair on their arms stand up. They had worked for him for years. They had never seen the devil smile. It was terrifying.

Ingram locked the tablet. He waved his hand dismissively. He told the executives to get out and fix their garbage presentation.

The men scrambled out of the room. Ingram looked at Palmer. He ordered him to find out everything about the gala Felicia mentioned in the video.

Palmer tapped his phone. Three minutes later, he spoke. He said it was a high-society charity auction happening next week. Cathi and her family were on the guest list.

Ingram let out a cold breath. He told Palmer to call the organizers. He told him to use the Santiago name to secure the highest-level VIP invitation for the event.

Miles away, Evelena sat in a quiet corner of a cafe. She stared at a black coffee.

Her phone buzzed. It was a text from Orlaith. Orlaith asked if she was really planning to go to the charity gala next week.

Evelena typed back immediately. She said yes. That charity was her grandfather's legacy. She was not going to let Cathi parade around acting like she owned it.

Suddenly, the loud screech of heavy tires echoed outside the cafe. Three massive, black, bulletproof Maybachs pulled up to the curb, completely blocking traffic.

The people inside the cafe stopped talking. They stared out the window at the ridiculous display of wealth and power.

Four men in dark suits stepped out of the cars. They walked into the cafe and walked straight to Evelena's table.

The lead guard bowed his head slightly. He spoke loudly enough for the whole room to hear. He said, "Miss, the boss sent us to pick you up."

Evelena blinked. Her heart skipped a beat. She knew Ingram sent them. She felt the heavy stares of everyone in the cafe burning into her back.

She did not argue. She stood up smoothly, grabbed her bag, and walked out the door surrounded by the massive men.

She climbed into the back of the middle Maybach. The door shut heavily, blocking out the noise of the city. The car smelled like cedarwood and cold air. It smelled exactly like Ingram.

Palmer was sitting in the front passenger seat. He turned around and handed her a square velvet box.

Evelena took the box. She opened the lid. Inside sat a breathtaking pink diamond necklace. The stones caught the light, sparkling with a blinding intensity.

Palmer smiled politely. He repeated Ingram's exact words. "The boss says if you are going to war, you need to wear your armor."

Evelena stared at the diamonds. A strange, heavy feeling settled in her chest. Her pulse hammered in her throat. For the first time in her life, she felt a massive wall of protection standing right behind her.

She snapped the box shut. She looked out the tinted window at the passing buildings. Her jaw set in a hard line.

She was not fighting alone anymore.

The convoy sped through the streets, heading back to the penthouse. A storm was coming to the upper-class society of New York.

Monday morning arrived with bright, cold sunlight. Evelena stood by the penthouse window, staring out at the city. The agonizing grief over Aidan's death still burned a hole in her chest, and her hatred for Cathi fueled her every waking breath. She knew Cathi and Felicia were preparing for the upcoming high-society charity gala, a legacy of her grandfather that they had stolen. She wasn't returning to the trivial drama of high school to study; she was going to St. Jude Preparatory Academy because it was the breeding ground for New York's elite, and the first step in dismantling her family's social network before the gala. The gothic iron gates of the school stood open.

A black, bulletproof Maybach, flanked by four massive Range Rovers, drove straight through the entrance. The convoy completely ignored the speed bumps, rolling smoothly onto the campus.

The sheer aggression of the vehicles made every student in the courtyard stop moving. The loud chatter died instantly. Everyone stared, wondering which billionaire or politician was arriving.

The Maybach stopped right at the bottom of the main stone steps. Two bodyguards in dark sunglasses jumped out. They opened the rear door.

A foot wearing a custom leather boot stepped out. Evelena stood up. She was wearing the standard school uniform, but it was tailored to fit her perfectly.

Her short, sharp hair blew in the wind. Her face was completely devoid of emotion. She looked nothing like the quiet, scared girl they used to know.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. A girl standing near the steps dropped her iced coffee. The plastic cup shattered, spilling brown liquid everywhere.

Evelena ignored the staring eyes. She adjusted the strap of her bag and walked up the stone steps. Her back was perfectly straight.

At the top of the stairs stood Kenzie Block, the undisputed queen of the school's social hierarchy. She was surrounded by her usual group of wealthy followers.

Kenzie stared at the Maybach. Her father was a board member, and even he couldn't buy that specific model. Her chest burned with ugly, hot jealousy.

Brandi, Kenzie's right-hand girl, leaned in. She whispered loudly that since Evelena got kicked out, she must have sold her body to some old, gross sugar daddy to survive.

Kenzie's eyes lit up. She grabbed onto the lie immediately. She laughed loudly and agreed, making sure her voice carried across the courtyard.

The rumor spread like a virus. By the time the first bell rang, everyone in the hallways was whispering about Evelena being a high-priced escort.

Evelena walked into her AP Microeconomics class. The room went dead silent. Thirty pairs of eyes stared at her with disgust and curiosity.

She did not blink. She walked straight to her desk in the back row and sat down, pulling out her notebook.

When the class ended, Evelena walked into the girls' restroom. She pushed the door open and found Kenzie and three of her friends waiting inside.

Kenzie crossed her arms. She smirked and asked Evelena if her knees hurt from spending all weekend on the floor for her old sugar daddy.

Evelena walked to the sink. She turned on the cold water and slowly washed her hands. She did not even look at Kenzie in the mirror.

The silence made Kenzie furious. She stepped forward. She reached out her hand, trying to grab the collar of Evelena's uniform to look for marks on her neck.

Evelena's eyes hardened. She spun around and slapped Kenzie's hand away with brutal force. The loud smack echoed off the tiles. Kenzie's skin turned bright red instantly.

Kenzie shrieked. She grabbed her hand and screamed that Evelena was a dirty whore.

Evelena pulled a paper towel from the dispenser. She dried her hands slowly. She took a step toward Kenzie. Her eyes were dead.

She spoke in a low, terrifying voice. She told Kenzie that if she opened her mouth to bark again, she would physically rip her teeth out.

The heavy, suffocating pressure radiating from Evelena felt exactly like Ingram. Kenzie actually took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest.

Evelena threw the crumpled paper towel perfectly into the trash can. She shoved her shoulder hard into Brandi, forcing her out of the way, and walked out the door.

Kenzie held her stinging hand. Her whole body shook with rage. She looked at Brandi and hissed that they were going to destroy Evelena at the equestrian club this afternoon.

At lunch, Orlaith sat across from Evelena in the cafeteria. She leaned over her tray and asked about the insane car convoy.

Evelena kept her voice down. She said a powerful man saved her life, but she did not say Ingram's name.

Orlaith let out a breath. She warned Evelena that Kenzie was crazy and would definitely try to get revenge.

Evelena cut a piece of steak with her knife. Her face was completely calm. She said she was hoping Kenzie would try something. Orlaith watched Evelena's hardened expression. A deep frown of worry creased Orlaith's forehead. Beneath the table, she discreetly pulled out her phone and sent a rapid, urgent text message to her older brother, Cian, telling him Evelena was in serious danger and needed backup.

Across the city, Ingram sat in his office. He looked at a text message from the security team detailing the rumors spreading around the school. His jaw ticked.

He dropped his pen onto the desk. He looked at Palmer and told him to cancel the afternoon meetings. He was going to St. Jude.

Palmer's eyes widened slightly, but he immediately nodded and walked out to prepare the car.

The storm was moving toward the school.