Marius sat alone by the fire, the flickering flames casting shadows across his features, deepening the lines of worry etched into his face. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring into the flames as if they held the answers he needed.
The room was still, save for the quiet crackle of the fire and the soft ticking of the clock on the wall, yet the weight of Viviana's words echoed persistently in his mind. "My son is the true heir," she had said, her voice laced with a conviction that had both stirred his pride and stoked his fears.
The truth was a thorn buried deep within him, one he had guarded closely for years. He had done everything to shield Orion from the dangers that came with the Montclair name, back then.
But he knew Viviana, knew the fire that burned in her eyes whenever she looked at her son. Her ambition had always been clear to him, but now, more than ever, it was dangerous. A spark could ignite the empire itself if she pushed too far.
