The interior of Damian’s town car was a sanctuary of quiet luxury, insulated from the blaring horns and chaotic traffic of the city. Clara sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window as the blurred lights of the downtown skyline passed by.

The adrenaline that had carried her through the conf

"Let them slaughter the ghost," Damian said coldly, his eyes locking onto hers with terrifying intensity. "Because when the real Clara Vance rises from the ashes at Julian’s grand opening, the shockwave will tear his empire apart."

Clara stared at the phone resting on the marble counter. The screen

The dining room of *L'Étoile* was a masterclass in pretentious design. Dripping with crystal chandeliers and draped in dark velvet, Julian’s new flagship restaurant was designed to scream luxury. But its centerpiece was the expansive, glass-walled open kitchen, built so the wealthy elite could watch