*Three Months Later — Paris, France*

The morning sun poured through the towering, arched windows of the Laurent Group's executive penthouse, bathing the room in a warm, golden light. Outside, the sprawling skyline of Paris stretched toward the horizon, a tapestry of slate roofs and ancient stone.

The Laurent Group’s primary boardroom was a masterpiece of intimidation. Perched on the top floor of their Paris headquarters, it featured floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a commanding, unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower and the sprawling city below. The table was carved from a single, massi

The heavy oak doors of the boardroom shut behind Serena with a satisfying, resolute thud.

For the first time in three months, she took a full, deep breath. Her pulse was racing, thrumming against the diamond choker at her throat, but her hands were perfectly steady. She had played the scene out in