The door closed behind her. Soft. Final. Inside, Max remained where he was. Silent.
Still. His gaze drifted back to Ruby's portrait. To her smile. To the life that had been taken from him. His fingers curled slightly, as if still remembering the feel of Violet's throat beneath them. But his expression didn't change. Didn't soften.
Didn't break. Because whatever was left of him. Was no longer capable of mercy. Only vengeance. And he had just begun.
Samuel stepped inside quietly, pausing at the switch. The villa was swallowed in darkness, thick, deliberate, suffocating. He reached for the light.
"Don't." Max's voice cut through the room. Low. Final. Samuel's hand stilled mid-air… then slowly dropped. He turned instead. Max hadn't moved.
Still seated in the shadows. Still facing the portrait. Still drinking. Like time had frozen around him.
