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.

The afternoon sun beat down on the outdoor dirt arena of the school's equestrian club. The air smelled of dust and horses. Evelena wore dark, fitted riding pants and tall leather boots. She walked toward the stables.

She reached for the metal latch of the stall holding the calm thoroughbred she usually rode.

Kenzie stepped out from behind the wooden posts. Brandi and three large boys from the football team followed her. They formed a wall, blocking the stall door.

Kenzie held a black leather riding crop decorated with fake diamonds. She tapped it against her leg. She laughed and told Evelena she should be riding her sugar daddy's lap, not a horse.

The boys laughed loudly. Other students in the arena stopped brushing their horses and turned to watch.

Evelena stared at Kenzie's face. Her expression did not change. She said, "Move," and tried to step around them.

Brandi suddenly stuck her heavy riding boot out, aiming to trip Evelena face-first into the dirt.

Evelena saw the movement. She did not try to step over it. Instead, she brought her own hard leather heel down violently, stomping directly onto the bridge of Brandi's foot.

Brandi let out a sound like a dying animal. She collapsed into the dirt, grabbing her foot and screaming in agony.

Kenzie lost her mind. She raised the heavy leather riding crop high above her head. She swung it down with all her strength, aiming directly for Evelena's face.

The whip cut through the air with a sharp whistling sound.

Evelena's eyes narrowed. She did not flinch back. She threw her left arm up, taking the brutal hit directly on her forearm.

The leather cracked against her sleeve. A line of pure fire burned across Evelena's skin.

The pain did not make her weak. It made her vicious. Before Kenzie could pull the whip back, Evelena's right hand shot out and grabbed the end of the leather tightly.

Kenzie yanked hard, trying to free it. Evelena planted her feet. She did not move an inch.

Evelena pulled the whip toward herself with a violent jerk. Kenzie lost her balance and stumbled forward in her boots.

As Kenzie fell forward, Evelena did not attempt a martial arts kick she hadn't been trained for. Instead, she used Kenzie's own momentum against her. Evelena stepped to the side, grabbed the collar of Kenzie's riding jacket with both hands, and shoved her violently downward with all her body weight. Kenzie lost her footing entirely. She stumbled wildly and crashed hard, face-first, into the muddy dirt of the arena.

The entire club went dead silent. No one moved. They stared in absolute shock at the quiet girl who just kicked the board member's daughter into the mud.

Kenzie rolled on the ground, gagging for air. Her perfect makeup was smeared with wet dirt.

She screamed hysterically. She ordered the three boys to grab Evelena and hold her down.

The boys hesitated, but they outnumbered her. They spread out and walked toward Evelena, cracking their knuckles.

Evelena did not back down. She reached over to a bale of hay and grabbed a heavy, rusted iron pitchfork. She held it across her chest like a weapon. Her eyes looked like a cornered wolf.

She smiled a cold, crazy smile. She told them the first person to step forward was getting iron spikes through their throat.

The boys stopped dead. The murderous intent radiating from her body was real. They believed her.

Suddenly, Milton Yardley, the Dean of Students, came sprinting across the dirt. He was sweating heavily.

He saw Kenzie in the mud. His face turned pale with terror. Kenzie's father funded his salary.

Milton turned to Evelena. His face turned purple with rage. He screamed that she was a violent psychopath.

He pointed a shaking finger at her and ordered the two campus security guards running behind him to arrest her immediately. He screamed that she was expelled.

The two large guards rushed forward. They grabbed Evelena's arms, twisting them painfully behind her back. They ripped the pitchfork out of her hands.

Kenzie struggled to her feet. Brandi helped her stand. Kenzie walked over to where the guards were holding Evelena. She raised her hand and slapped Evelena across the face as hard as she could.

Evelena's head snapped to the side. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. But when she looked back at Kenzie, her eyes were completely unbroken.

Milton ordered the guards to drag her to the holding office.

Before they could take a step, a deafening roar shook the ground.

A massive, matte-black AgustaWestland AW139 heavy helicopter dropped out of the sky. It hovered directly over the equestrian arena.

The violent wind from the rotors kicked up a massive cloud of dust, blinding everyone and forcing them to cover their faces.