The mansion was too quiet. Too still.
Heaven sat by Michael's bedside, watching his small chest rise and fall. The fever had gone down a little, but he was still weak.
Her mind, however, was elsewhere.
Dylan.
The way he had looked at her last night, the blood on his clothes, his cold words—"That this is survival."
She wanted to hate him. She should hate him.
But why did a part of her feel like she was finally seeing the real Dylan Martin?
A monster, yes. But one created by the world around him.
She shook the thoughts away. She had no time for weakness.
A sharp knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.
Jayden.
"Miss Heaven," he said, his voice formal. "Master Dylan requests your presence in the garden."
Her brows furrowed. Dylan? In the garden?
Something felt off.
Still, she had no choice.
---
The Garden – An Unexpected Offer
The air was crisp as Heaven stepped outside. A full moon cast an eerie glow over the sprawling estate.
Dylan stood near the fountain, his hands in his pockets. The blood from last night was gone, replaced with his usual sharp black suit.
His back was to her as she approached. "You wanted to see me?"
Dylan turned slowly. "Yes."
She crossed her arms. "What is it now? Another threat? Another way to control me?"
A smirk tugged at his lips. "I have a proposition."
She stiffened. "What kind of proposition?"
Dylan stepped closer. "I need leverage over Richard. Something he values."
She narrowed her eyes. "And what does that have to do with me?"
His gaze locked onto hers. "You're going to be that leverage."
The words sent a chill down her spine.
"Excuse me?"
Dylan tucked his hands into his pockets. "Richard wants to destroy me. But if I make him think you're important to me, he'll hesitate."
She scoffed. "And why would he care about me?"
Dylan's smirk widened. "Because he wants to take everything that belongs to me."
Her heart pounded. "I don't belong to you, Dylan."
He tilted his head, studying her. "Not yet."
The implication made her skin crawl. "You're insane if you think I'll agree to this."
Dylan stepped even closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Then let me remind you, kitten. Michael is alive because of me."
Her breath caught.
He was blackmailing her. Again.
"You're despicable."
Dylan only smirked. "So what's your answer?"
Heaven clenched her fists. She had no choice.
"Fine," she spat. "I'll do it."
Dylan's smirk deepened. "Good girl."
---
Meanwhile – Richard's Trap
Richard sat in his private club, a cigarette between his fingers.
His informant had just delivered interesting news.
Dylan was getting sloppy.
And now, for some reason, he was dragging that girl—Heaven—into this.
Richard exhaled a long stream of smoke.
Dylan cared about nothing. But now, he was protecting that girl?
Interesting.
"Prepare the next attack," Richard ordered. "But leave the girl untouched."
His second-in-command frowned. "Why?"
Richard smirked. "Because I want to see what Dylan does when I take something he wants for a change."
The war had just gotten personal.