I saw a man, a young man, his sharp gaze locking onto mine.

I spun to run, but before I could take a step, his hand gripped my arm, yanking me back. “Not so fast, young lady,” he smirked.

The man’s grip tightened on my arm as I stared at the lifeless body on the floor. Blood pooled beneath Alexus Winfield, staining the once-pristine carpet. My chest heaved, my mind struggling to process what had just happened.

Then it hit me, all at once. The gunshot. The blood. The murderer standing right in front of me.

I opened my mouth and screamed. “Help! Somebody help! Call the police!”

The man didn’t flinch. Instead, he laughed—a low, cold sound that sent chills down my spine.

“Go ahead and scream,” he said. “No one’s coming to save you. Not after that explosion. Everyone’s too busy running for their lives. You’re stuck with me.”

His words made my stomach churn, but I forced myself to stand tall. “What do you want? Are you going to kill me too?”

“Kill you?” He raised an eyebrow, amused. “Why would I kill my alibi?”

“Alibi?” I repeated, my voice trembling. “No. You’re not going to use me as your alibi. You just killed a man, and I want no part of this!”

He chuckled again, his grip unwavering. “You think you have a choice? You saw everything. Do you really think I’m going to let you walk out of here and ruin my perfect crime?”

“Perfect crime?” I scoffed, glaring at him despite my fear. “There’s no such thing. The police will find you. I’ll make sure of it. I’ll testify against you.”

His eyes darkened, the amusement fading. “Then I guess I have no choice but to take you with me,” he said flatly. “You’re not going anywhere until I’m done.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” I said, my voice sharper now. “Do you have any idea who I am? I’m the—”

I stopped myself just in time, the words catching in my throat. My identity. If he knew who I was, he could use it against me. I clenched my fists, swallowing hard, and said nothing more.

The man tilted his head, watching me closely. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

I ignored his taunt, my voice steadier now. “Why are you doing this? Why did you kill him? Who even are you?”

He smirked, his eyes flicking briefly to Alexus’s lifeless body. “He deserved to die. Do you know how many people lost their lives because of him? Because of his healthcare scams?”

“That doesn’t justify murder!” I snapped. “What you did is illegal!”

The man laughed again, shaking his head. “Illegal?” he echoed, his tone mocking. “There’s no legal in this field.”

I stared at him, my confusion mounting. “What does that even mean?”

He shrugged, the smirk still on his face. Then he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“Ever heard of a mafia?”

My blood ran cold.

I blinked, stunned. “Mafia?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

The man’s smirk deepened, but he said nothing.

I’d heard of mafias before, of course. Stories, rumors—people talked about them in hushed tones, like ghost stories from a time long past. But I’d never thought they still existed, at least not here in this city. Thugs, criminals, sure, but a full-blown mafia? That felt like a relic of history.

“You’re… you’re a member of a mafia?” I asked, my voice hesitant.

Before he could answer, the door burst open, and another man stepped in. He was lean but muscular, dressed in black, his face grim.

“Boss,” the newcomer said, his tone urgent. “Elevator’s working. We can go now.”

The tattooed man nodded. “What about Xander?”

The other man hesitated, glancing at me before answering. “We couldn’t get him. He’s down with a lot of people from the ground floor so it’s not save to shoot him.”

I blinked. He was also going to kill Xander?

The tattooed man let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Smart boy,” he muttered. Then his gaze shifted back to me, and the amusement returned to his expression. “At least I got his loving girl.”

I froze, the words slicing through me like a blade. “Excuse me?” I said. That felt like an insult right now. “You’ve got the wrong girl. Xander doesn’t care about me. He’s busy with his new bride!”

The man tilted his head, his smirk widening as he studied me. He stepped closer, the weight of his presence suffocating.

“Then,” he said, his voice low and smooth, “I’ll make you my bride now.”

My heart stopped.

The elevator doors closed with a quiet hiss, and I was yanked forward by his iron grip. Louis, that’s what one of his men had called, but he never confirmed his real identity to me even if I had asked for the nth time already.

Not that it matters right now. I wanted to scream or to fight back, and even escape but I knew better. If I made a wrong move, I wouldn’t make it out of this alive.

Louis stood beside me. His men flanked him, their eyes scanning me with cold detachment. One of them pressed the button for the ground floor.

“Boss,” one of the men said, “the helicopter’s out. The police are everywhere. We need to blend in with the crowd and head to the car waiting downstairs.”

Louis nodded as if he didn’t care. “Yeah. Just as planned. I’ve spent years building a spotless reputation. No one will ever tie me to this.”

I couldn’t help it—I laughed, though it sounded hollow even to my own ears. “Not if you have a witness,” I said, turning my gaze to him.

His head snapped toward me, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. “A witness, huh?” He smirked. “Come on, Miss Blair Gallo. You wouldn’t risk your family’s reputation, would you?”

I froze, his words slicing through me like a blade. My stomach twisted, but I forced myself to remain calm. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.

“Don’t play games with me,” Louis replied, leaning closer. His voice dropped to a near-whisper. I could feel his breath on my skin and it sent shivers. “Do you really think I don’t know who you are? The daughter of Europe’s wealthiest family. Blair Gallo.”

My heart sank. He knew? How… the secret I’d hidden for years, the one even Xander didn’t know, was now in the hands of a mafia boss. A mafia boss—right, I couldn’t help but laugh. Of course, a mafia boss could get that information illegally!

I stiffened, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “How did you know?” That was a stupid question but I just couldn’t find any words to say now. I’m trapped! He can kidnap me and ask for ransom. Isn’t that what happens in movies?

He chuckled. “Let’s just say I’ve had my eye on you for a long time,” he said smoothly. “I’m your stalker, Miss Blair. And, if I’m honest, I’m a little obsessed.”

His words sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to let him see my fear. Fear would only fuel him. Instead, I crossed my arms, lifting my chin slightly. “Why are you doing this? What’s your endgame here?”

Louis leaned against the elevator wall. “Endgame? Well, I just want to build a better world,” he said simply.

I scoffed. “A better world? You’re a mafia boss! If you want a better world, come on, be a police officer or a lawmaker.”

He chuckled, mocking. “And do you think they make the world a better place? Those police officers? Lawmakers? You probably don’t realize but they’re a lot worse. They’re unjust, only protecting what they deemed necessary for their own good.”

I felt the bitterness in him as if he had experienced something worse to become like this.

“Do you have any idea how many people lost their lives because of his scams? The man ruined families, destroyed lives. He got what was coming to him,” he added.

“And that justifies murder?” I snapped. “You don’t get to play judge and executioner!”

He laughed, the sound cold and devoid of humor. “There’s no such thing as justice in this world,” he said. “You should know that by now. Especially in our field.”

Before I could reply, the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open to chaos.

The lobby was a frenzy of movement and noise. Police officers shouted orders, and guests ran in every direction, some screaming, others crying. The bodies of several security guards were sprawled on the floor, blood pooling beneath them. But it seems like they hadn’t recovered Alexus' body yet.

Louis’s grip on my arm tightened as he led me through the chaos, his men close behind. My heart raced, my mind spinning as I searched for an escape.

Then I saw him.

Xander.

He stood near Elise, his arm around her shoulders. Her face was pale. But when Xander’s gaze locked onto mine, his expression changed—confusion flickering across his face.

Elise followed his gaze, and the moment she saw me, her face twisted in fury. She pointed at me, her voice shrill and cutting through the noise.

“Her!” she screamed. “I know. It must be her, police! Look at her! She must be the one who did it! She hates us! She has a motive!”

The room fell silent as every head turned toward me.

“What?” The word escaped my lips before I could stop it. I stared at Elise, her face twisted in smug satisfaction as she pointed at me.

“This must be because Xander broke your heart,” Elise spat. “You couldn’t take it, could you? You couldn’t accept that he chose me. That’s why you did this, Blair!”

I frowned, trying to stay calm despite the growing tension. “I didn’t do anything. What are you even talking about?”

Elise scoffed, stepping closer. “You’re the only one with a motive! You sided with those protesters, didn’t you? You hated Alexus because Xander’s parents despised you. Admit it!”

The murmurs from the crowd grew louder. People whispered, pointing at me. The weight of their stares pressed down on me, suffocating.

Elise jabbed a finger in my direction. “You’ve always been jealous. A poor girl trying to fit in, but never quite making it. Now look at what you’ve done. You killed him! Am I right? Xander, I’m pretty sure she did it!”

I looked at Xander and shook my head. “No, I won’t do that, Xander. You know me.”

Xander shook his head. “I don’t think I know you, Blair. If you kill my father, how could you—”

I slapped him.

“You fucking!” I gritted my teeth. “You think I’m capable of killing—”

“Miss Blair?” one of the police officers said, stepping forward, cutting me off. I tried to calm myself but all I could feel was hatred toward Xander and Elise. “We need you to come with us to the station for questioning.”

“What?” I turned to him, incredulous. “I didn’t do anything! I was there with them when the explosion happened. I couldn’t have done this!”

“Bait,” Elise said. “It was all a trap, wasn’t it? You pretended to be there so no one would suspect you. Admit it. You were even late at our wedding so you must have planned something first and here you are, you also arrived late while the rest of us gathered here.”

“Blair… is this because I hurt you or because my parents arranged this marriage? Why do you have to do this?”

His words stung more than I expected. My hands clenched into fists. “You can’t be serious,” I said, glaring at him. “I had nothing to do with this!”

The police officer didn’t seem convinced. “Miss Blair, we’re going to need you to cooperate. Please come with us to the station.”

“No!” I said, taking a step back. “You can’t pin this on me. I told you, I was there!” I pointed at Louis, whose calm expression hadn’t shifted and he seemed to be amused. “It’s him! I didn’t do it—he did! He killed Alexus!”

The officer raised an eyebrow, glancing at Louis. “Him? That’s impossible.”

I frowned. “Why? What are you talking about? I saw it! I caught him in the act! I’m your witness. That’s why I was late because he had trapped me.”

“No,” the officer said matter-of-factly. “You’re kidding, right? He’s Louis Machini.”

I blinked. Louis Machini. That somehow ring a bell. I looked at him. I heard his surname a few times as my mother had mentioned it before and she even mentioned arranging my marriage to a Machini—but that’s not the case now!

“So what if he is a Machini?”

“He is a wealthy businessman, Ivy League graduate, exceptional athlete. Why would someone like him have any motive to kill Alexus Winfield?”

I stared at the officer, stunned by the words coming out of his mouth.

“And I would?” I asked, my voice trembling with anger. “Because I’m a ‘poor girl’? That makes me capable of something like this?”

The officer didn’t blink. “Poor ones always cause trouble,” he said flatly. “Now, come with us.”

Elise smirked triumphantly. “That’s right. Look at her necklace! She probably stole it. There’s no way someone like her could afford something like that!”

“That’s not true!” I snapped. My blood boiled as I looked around at the crowd, all of them avoiding my eyes, their judgment written on their faces.

My chest heaved as I stood tall. “I’m not coming. Do you know who I am? I’m not some ‘poor girl.’ I am Blair Gallo, the daughter of the wealthiest family in Europe!”

The room went quiet for a second before a burst of laughter broke out. People chuckled and whispered to one another, their disbelief clear.

“Yeah, right,” someone muttered.

“She’s just trying to save herself,” another said.

I turned to Louis, anger and desperation coursing through me. “You did this,” I hissed. “You’re the reason they’re blaming me!”

He stepped closer, his smirk deepening. “No, babe,” he said softly, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. “They did this to you because they think you’re poor.”

He leaned in, his words brushing against my ear. “Now do you believe me when I say the law is unjust to the poor?”

I froze, his words echoing in my mind as the world around me seemed to collapse.