The rhythmic, percussive thwack of the heavy chef’s knife against the bamboo cutting board was the only sound in the cavernous kitchen.

Clara Vance stood at the massive white marble island, methodically dicing a mountain of aromatic vegetables. Carrots. Celery. Onions. The sharp, stinging scent of

The headquarters of Vance Real Estate Group occupied the top three floors of a sleek, glass-and-steel skyscraper in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district. The interior was a monument to Julian’s ego—acres of polished white marble, brushed chrome accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows that o

The digital clock on the microwave glowed a harsh, neon green in the pitch-black kitchen: *1:14 AM.*

Clara sat perfectly still on a tall stool at the marble island, the expansive first floor of her home completely swallowed by shadows. The sprawling Vance estate, usually a beacon of warmth and luxu