The courtroom defeat still echoed in Elara's mind.
Psychiatric evaluation approved.
Travel restriction placed.
Public investigation ongoing.
Rayan had won the first public battle.
But Ares Valentino did not look like a man who had lost.
He looked like a man calculating.
Late Night – Valentino Estate
Elara couldn't sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the headlines.
Is Elara Khan mentally unstable?
Was she manipulated?
She stepped onto the balcony for air.
"You shouldn't read public comments."
His voice came from behind her.
She didn't turn.
"I didn't."
"You're lying."
Silence.
He walked closer.
"You're stronger than this."
She finally faced him.
"I don't want to be strong all the time."
That made him pause.
For once, she didn't look defiant.
She looked exhausted.
"They're trying to erase me," she whispered. "Turn me into a 'hysterical woman' so no one believes me."
Ares' jaw tightened.
"They won't."
"How do you know?"
"Because I won't allow it."
Her eyes searched his.
"You can't control everything."
His gaze darkened.
"I can control enough."
Before she could respond, Luca rushed in.
"Boss."
Ares turned instantly.
"What."
"We have a breach."
His eyes sharpened.
"Explain."
"Someone inside leaked internal financial movement records."
Elara froze.
"From the court case?" she asked.
"Yes."
Luca swallowed.
"The leak shows Valentino funds being transferred to protect the Khan family."
Elara's heart dropped.
"That makes it look like you bribed them…"
"Yes," Ares said calmly.
"And it makes me look dependent on you," she added quietly.
Exactly what Rayan wanted.
In the Security Room
Cameras played on multiple screens.
Staff movements. Phone logs. Financial access records.
"Who had access?" Ares asked.
"Only four people," Luca replied.
"Sofia?" Elara asked.
"No," Luca said immediately. "She's clean."
Ares scanned the list.
His expression turned dangerously still.
"Bring him in."
Minutes later, Marco—the junior legal analyst—was dragged into the room.
He looked terrified.
"I swear I didn't mean—"
"You leaked it," Ares said flatly.
Marco's eyes filled with panic.
"They threatened my sister!"
Elara stiffened.
"Who?" she asked softly.
Marco's voice trembled.
"Arman's people. They showed me photos of her school. They said if I didn't forward internal records—"
Ares' voice cut through the room like ice.
"You chose wrong."
Marco fell to his knees.
"They would have hurt her!"
"And now," Ares said coldly, "you've hurt us."
Elara stepped forward.
"Wait."
Ares didn't look at her.
"He betrayed internal trust."
"He was scared," she argued.
"He was weak."
She turned sharply.
"Fear makes people weak!"
His eyes snapped to hers.
"Yes. It does."
The room went silent.
Marco was shaking.
Elara looked at him.
"Where is your sister?"
"At home."
Ares signaled Luca.
"Secure the girl. Quietly."
Marco blinked in confusion.
"You're… helping her?"
Ares' gaze remained emotionless.
"I don't punish children for their uncle's stupidity."
Marco broke down.
"Thank you…"
"Don't thank me," Ares replied. "You're still fired."
Luca escorted him out.
Alone in the Security Room
Elara looked at Ares.
"You could have destroyed him."
"I still can."
"But you didn't."
He didn't answer.
She studied him.
"You're not as ruthless as people think."
His expression darkened.
"Don't romanticize me."
"I'm not."
Silence lingered.
Then—
Sofia entered slowly.
"There's something else."
Everyone turned toward her.
"What," Ares said.
She hesitated.
"The psychiatric evaluator assigned to Elara."
Elara's stomach tightened.
"What about them?"
Sofia swallowed.
"He has business ties with Arman Holdings."
Silence.
Cold.
Deadly silence.
"It's rigged," Elara whispered.
"Yes," Sofia confirmed.
Ares' expression became terrifyingly calm.
"How solid is the connection?" he asked.
"Indirect. Hard to prove."
Of course it was.
Rayan never left fingerprints.
Elara exhaled shakily.
"So tomorrow I walk into a mental evaluation already judged insane."
Ares stepped closer.
"No."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"What do you mean no?"
He looked at Luca.
"Dig into the evaluator's offshore accounts."
Then at Sofia.
"Find any regulatory violations."
Then back at Elara.
"He wants to question your sanity?"
His silver eyes turned lethal.
"Then we question his integrity."
Her heart raced.
"This will escalate."
"Yes."
She whispered,
"You said if the court sided with him, you'd stop playing legally."
A slow, dangerous smile touched his lips.
"I am still playing legally."
She looked unconvinced.
"For now."
A chill ran down her spine.
Across the City – Arman Penthouse
Rayan received a message.
Leak successful. Public trust shifting.
He poured himself a drink.
"She's cornered," his assistant said.
Rayan smiled faintly.
"She will come back."
"And Valentino?"
Rayan's eyes darkened.
"He's emotional about her."
That was the weakness.
"And emotional men make mistakes."
Rayan looked toward the city lights.
"Push phase two."
Back at the Mansion – Midnight
Elara stood alone in the hallway.
Ares approached quietly.
"You should rest."
"I can't."
He stopped in front of her.
"You doubt yourself?"
She hesitated.
"For one second in that courtroom… I did."
His hand lifted slowly—
He brushed a loose strand of hair from her face.
Gentle.
Unexpected.
"You are not broken," he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
"And if they try to make the world believe I am?"
His voice dropped lower.
"Then I will burn the world's belief down."
Their faces were inches apart.
Tension. Heat. War.
For the first time—
She didn't pull away.
But neither did he move closer.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Luca's voice carried urgently.
"Boss. It's happening."
Ares stepped back instantly.
"What."
"Arman just filed a criminal complaint."
Elara's heart stopped.
"For what?"
Luca swallowed.
"Kidnapping."
Silence.
Then—
Ares smiled.
Not amused.
Not calm.
Predatory.
"Good," he said softly.
Elara stared at him.
"Good?!"
"Yes."
His eyes burned.
"He just made this personal."