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.

The interrogation room was cold and suffocating. I sat in the metal chair, my wrists resting on the table, refusing to look at the officers hovering over me.

“Miss Blair,” one of them said. “If you cooperate, this will go much faster. Why don’t you tell us what you were doing near Alexus Winfield’s room?”

I didn’t answer, keeping my eyes fixed on the table.

“Miss Blair,” another officer pressed, his patience wearing thin, “if you want this to end, tell us the truth.”

I finally lifted my head and stared at him. “I want a lawyer,” I said firmly.

One of them sighed, clearly irritated. “We’ll get to that. But first, you need to answer our questions.”

I leaned back, crossing my arms. “If you let me make one call—to my mother—you’ll have your answers. But you won’t let me, will you?”

The officers exchanged glances but said nothing.

“I demand to call her,” I continued, my voice rising slightly. “If you let me, you’ll know exactly who I am and the truth about all of this.”

“Enough,” one officer snapped, slamming his hand on the table. “You’re not calling anyone until we’re done here.”

The door opened, and Elise walked in with Xander trailing behind her. Elise’s eyes immediately landed on the jewelry I was still wearing.

“Take it off,” she said, her voice icy.

I frowned. “What?”

“The necklace,” Elise repeated, pointing at it. “And the rest of the jewelry. You’re a thief, Blair. You don’t deserve to wear them.”

I clenched my jaw. “This is mine.”

Elise let out a laugh. “Yours? Don’t make me laugh. I’ll keep them until the real Lady Gallo appears. Let’s see how long you can keep up this ridiculous charade.”

“Elise,” Xander said hesitantly, but she silenced him with a glare.

She turned back to me. “Just because your last name is Gallo doesn’t mean you’re related to the family. I’ve known you since college, Blair. The Gallo family doesn’t even have a child. Stop pretending.”

I stayed silent, biting back the urge to respond. Of course, they weren't aware of my identity because my parents had never talked about me. I wanted it that way, to also protect myself, but seeing this is happening now, it seems like I really need to let the world who really am I.

Elise turned to Xander. “We need to get the jewelry and you can return it to Lady Gallo. Maybe she would reconsider the partnership.”

“That’s a great idea,” Xander replied.

I scoffed. “Your father is dead and all you can think about is money?” I shook my head. “It makes me think you actually wanted him dead.”

“Shut up, Blair,” Elise replied. Now I’m really seeing her true colors and that makes me despise her, especially Xander. He should have been the one who died!

Elise stepped closer to me, her eyes narrowing. “Take it off,” she demanded, pointing at the necklace around my neck. “You have no right to wear that.”

I raised an eyebrow, meeting her glare. “I’m not giving you anything. It’s mine.”

“Yours?” Elise let out a mocking laugh. “Stop lying. You stole it. Hand it over now, or I’ll take it off you myself.”

She grabbed at the necklace, her fingers brushing the gold chain. I stepped back, swatting her hand away.

“Don’t touch me,” I snapped.

“You don’t deserve it!” Elise hissed, lunging again.

We struggled, her nails clawing at my neck as I tried to push her away. The commotion grew louder, drawing the attention of the police and Xander.

“Enough!” a commanding voice rang out, silencing the room.

Everyone turned toward the door, where a tall, elegant woman stood. My mother.