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What had I been thinking?

I had left myself wide open to being hurt, and now I felt like nothing more than a puppet tangled in his game.

The memory of him pausing mid-act—a sudden need for reassurance about my emotions—made me shudder. With his longing only half-fulfilled, what was I supposed to say?

I shook my head, trying to clear the chaos in my thoughts. Just because Vik said something didn’t make it the ultimate truth. Wouldn’t Niko make that clear if he truly cared for and loved me?

Maybe I was mistaken in thinking I understood him.

“Anyway,” Vik interjected with a hint of compassion, “take it easy on him, Laya. You're both just trying to find your way through this labyrinth. From what I gather, the meeting is slated for sometime next week. The specifics are still emerging, but I’ll keep you posted as soon as I have more information.”

“Thank you, Vik,” I replied, my mouth curving with a hint of bitterness. “That saves me from having to pry every secret out of my husband’s mind.”

“That sounds particularly unpleasant. Yeah, wait for my call,” he responded.

“Fine, though I’m tempted,” I admitted, my irritation mingling with a wry grin.

“Calm down, Athena, Goddess of War,” he teased, easing the tension between us.

“I’d rather be Athena, Goddess of Information,” I retorted, weariness seeping into my body. “Now hurry up with that call.”

“Are you going to tell Niko you plan to attend this soirée?” Vik asked, already knowing my answer.

“My husband seems to love surprises,” I mused as a tingling of wicked excitement filled me, easing some of my annoyance with my spouse. “I can always surprise him, too.”

Sixteen

NIKOLAS

The Domaine Matsa vineyards sloped down the hill, featuring grapevines arranged in neat, symmetrical rows, with vibrant clusters of ripening color. Beyond the fields, a lively valley unfolded as rolling hills merged into the distance, each contour illuminated by the sun’s glow, all framed against a sky sprinkled with fluffy clouds.

The syndicates had intentionally targeted my competitor’s vineyard as a provocation, delivering a subtle dig to bruise my pride. They sought to unsettle or distract me with their cold, calculated display of strength, hoping to catch me off guard and create the impression that they controlled this intricate power struggle.

However, their plan failed to gain traction.

I was well acquainted with the Matsa brand. While their everyday table wine had a limited audience, it could not compare to the exceptional vintages crafted by my vineyards.

Even their olive oil, though adequate for daily use, did not meet the high standards preferred by master chefs in the top-rated restaurants across Europe and beyond. Some may view my opinions as stemming from ego or family loyalty.

Nevertheless, my company’s net profits exceeded theirs for the past decade, indicating consumer preference for my products. No matter how much money or advanced technology my competitors invested in, it never resulted in superior quality. True excellence was born from years of dedicated work, refined expertise, and generations of finely honed knowledge.

They believed they could insult me without repercussions, which marked their first mistake. Deep down, I knew it wouldn’t be their last.

My instincts warned of trouble ahead, even with my thorough preparations for every possible outcome. Collaborating closely with Elias, we strategically positioned Galanis and Xenos troops around the city, creating a vigilant network of experienced fighters. Recognizing the need for additional strength, I quickly organized reinforcements.

I even enlisted some of my most trusted relatives, including a group of cousins from Italy, who integrated seamlessly with our local units. Their subtle yet formidable presence ensured our ground surveillance was unmatched. If any ambush was planned against us that day, we would be the first to detect it.

It might have been excessive, but I wasn’t willing to take risks.

Alongside all the other dangers was Ozias Xenos.

He kept evading capture, and given that he was the foremost enemy of the Vitalis sisters, I decided to take no chances.

Those who remained loyal to Ozias had assisted him in fleeing from his holding room after the coup at his compound, where he had been captured.

Based on Elias’s work and my search, pinpointing every traitor proved nearly impossible.

It wouldn’t surprise me if one of the other influential families had helped the old man with his great disappearance.