Chapter 9 

The TV cast a cold glow across the room, washing everything in flickering shades of blue and gray. I sat in the corner of the couch, back straight, sunglasses low on my nose, one boot resting in the coffee table. The voice of the news anchor slithered through the air, polished and 

riumphant. 

In breaking news, the Fiore and Rossi families have successfully identified the group esponsible for the poisoning at the Annual Wine Consortium. Their cooperation not only cleared. heir name but solidified their partnership. With the arrest of several rogue distributors, the amilies claim this was an outside attack designed to frame them. A joint press statement is xpected tomorrow.” 

am scoffed, shaking his head. “So much for making a dent. You gave the public chaos, and ney spun it into a redemption arc.” He took a sip of his wine, the red liquid catching the TV’s low like spilled blood. His eyes never left the screen. “It seems you failed.” 

Ani,” I said softly-no, in Korean-slipping into the language I’d practiced for this new skin 

ore. No one would recognize me now. “We’re just getting started.” 

othario didn’t speak. He never had to. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes on the creen like a soldier watching enemy lines. He knew me. Knew exactly what that small smirk on ny lips meant. 

We weren’t aiming to destroy reputations overnight. 

We were here to make the empire rot from the inside out. 

t the Rossi Estate 

lass shattered somewhere in the back corridor, but no one flinched. The Rossi estate was built n silence, fear, and brutal decorum. 

Get this filth out of my sight!” Marian snarled, voice sharp as broken crystal. Her hand throbbed rom the slap she’d just landed across the event manager’s face. 

he man, dazed, blood pooling at the edge of his lip, cowered on the floor. 

I trusted you,” she seethed. “And you let them into our space. The press, the sponsors- omeone leaked it to them. You know what that makes you?” She leaned closer. “A stain.” 

The guards didn’t wait for her to finish. 

Feed him to the dogs,” she snapped. Her tone had already cooled-like she was ordering trash 

o be taken out. 

The man’s screams were muffled before he even left the hallway. 

Chris entered moments later, face pale, hands still smelling of disinfectant. 

‘You cleaned up fast,” he said. 

Marian turned, all poison gone. Her lips curved into that soft, practiced smile. “No mess too big for us, right?” 

Chris exhaled deeply. “You saved us. If you hadn’t stepped in and revealed the real culprit, this would’ve blown back on all of us. Rossi would’ve looked weak-hell, we nearly lost the Montelli contract. Thank you.” 

211 

48 8 

12:05 am P P P P . 

“It’s nothing, brother,” she said sweetly, wrapping her arms around him. “We’re siblings now. It’ only natural to help each other.” 

He didn’t notice how stiff her voice sounded compared to her expression. He also didn’t notice how her eyes narrowed slightly behind his shoulder. 

Later that afternoon, the family gathered at the luxurious Penthouse 88, preparing for their private negotiation with Korean mafia leader, Mr. Kim. 

The Annual Mafia Global Rankings were nearing release. If the Rossi-Fiore alliance could win Mr Kim’s support, they’d make the Top 10 this year. 

Marian stood at the mirror, adjusting her pearl earrings. “Chris, are you ready?” she asked, giving him a quick once-over. Then she turned to Rupert, smoothing a wrinkle from his collar before pressing a kiss to his cheek. “We’ve got this.” 

Together, they entered the high-ceilinged conference suite. Gold accents lined the floor-to-ceiling windows. A wine cart gleamed under warm light. 

Just as the unconscious manager was dragged out through the back exit, the elevator dinged. 

The air shifted. 

Mr. Kim stepped out, flanked by two silent figures-a tall man and a slender woman in black their expressions unreadable, their presence sharp and still like blades. 

Marian froze mid-turn. Her eyes widened for a split second before she recovered. “Mr. Kim,” she said, her tone smoothing into grace as she bowed low. “We… weren’t informed you’d arrived. Ou staff failed to notify us-that’s entirely our oversight.” 

Chris stiffened beside her, shooting a glance toward the hallway. “No one told us,” he mutterec under his breath, clearly irritated. 

Mr. Kim said nothing. His eyes moved slowly over each of them, unreadable, before landing back On Marian. 

She straightened, drawing in a breath. “Please-this way, to the meeting room,” she offered, voice steady now. As they walked, she retrieved a sleek black bottle from a side cabinet, presenting it as they entered. “We hope this rare vintage might offer a small gesture of apology. It’s unreleased-aged in French oak, limited to five cases only.” 

One of Kim’s assistants took it without a word. 

Rupert, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward as they reached the long table. “Mr. Kim,” he said calmly, pulling out a chair for their guest. “Let’s get to the point, sir. We know you’re a man who values power and business. Here’s what we bring to the table.” 

He gestured to a tablet showing recent endorsements from various respected mafia families. 

Mr. Kim remained unimpressed. “You’ve gathered some names. But I’m not sold on names alone. I’m a businessman afterall. Show me something worth betting on.” 

Marian smiled, stepping forward. “Actually, Mr. Kim, my husband and brother have secured mining rights recently-gold, lithium, iron. We’re offering shares. And we’ll need your weapons and protection in exchange.” 

Chris followed up quickly, laying down a map. 

“We also have territory to offer. One formerly held by my sister, Ivanna. She’s no longer… with us.” 

12:05 am PPPP. 

He sighed dramatically. “If it’s for the good of the family, I know she would’ve approved.” 

The woman behind Mr. Kim clenched her fists and secretly glared at Chris. 

Chris continued, his tone proud. “With Rossi-Fiore’s growth in logistics, shipping, and high-end narcotics, we believe we can be more than mid-tier players.” 

Mr. Kim looked at the files, the wine, the digital supporter list. 

Still silent. 

Suddenly, a staff member burst in and whispered something to Rupert and Marian. 

They froze. Both reached for their phones at the same time. Marian scrolled furiously. Rupert’s aw dropped. 

On-screen: leaked images of Rupert and Marian kissing. Dated months before Ivanna’s disappearance. 

Was Ivanna Rossi betrayed by her fiancé and sister? Shocking photos reveal affair predating 

;candal.” 

Sasps. Comment sections are already boiling. 

Chris stared at them in shock. “You…?” His voice cracked. “You two were together before-” 

Marian scrambled to recover. “We’ll explain later,” she said quickly, turning back toward th Juests. “Mr. Kim-?” 

But the chairs were empty. 

Another staffer rushed in, flustered. “Mr. Kim called. He’s on his way now. His car is five minute 

>ut.” 

The room spun. 

f Kim hadn’t arrived yet… 

Chris’s voice was a whisper. “Who the hell were we just talking to?” 

Rupert’s eyes widened. “We need to lock this place down-NOW!” 

Marian stared at her phone again, face pale. People were already turning on her. Sympathy rising or Ivanna. The media was eating it alive. 

She screamed and hurled her phone at the wall. 

Outside 

A sleek black car glided through the private exit. 

Inside, the “body guard” in the driver seat removed his mask-it’s Sam. 

The man in the backseat peeled off his false face-Lothario. 

And I, sitting calmly in the backseat next to Lothario, pulled off the soft silicone that changed my features. I let my long black wig fall to my shoulders and wiped the concealer from my scar. 

I handed the stolen documents-contracts, signatures, confidential maps-to Sam. “Phase one,” I said with a small smirk. “Complete.” 

As our car vanished into the city, none of us noticed the glint of a scope tracking us from a rooftop far behind. 

A new player had entered the board. 

Charter 

12:05 am p p pp. 

And they were watching. 

12:05 am P