Veronica couldn't sleep.
Again.
She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling for what felt like forever, listening to the silence of the house—the kind of silence that's too loud, the kind that doesn't comfort you… it just makes you think more.
Every conversation from the night before echoed in her mind.
Daniel.
Leon.
That constant feeling that someone was pulling strings… and no one knew exactly who.
She turned to her side.
Closed her eyes.
Opened them again.
"Great…" she muttered. "Another perfect night."
When she finally gave up, she got out of bed and decided to go downstairs.
Maybe a glass of water would help.
Or maybe not.
The house was dark, lit only by a few dim lights. The cold floor made her shiver slightly as she walked toward the kitchen.
But before she got there…
She stopped.
Something was wrong.
The back door was slightly open.
Veronica frowned.
She was sure that door was always locked.
Always.
Her heart started beating faster.
"Leon?" she called softly.
No answer.
She took a step closer.
Then another.
Her hand slowly touched the handle.
The door creaked open a little more.
Cold night air slipped inside.
And with it… a bad feeling.
A very bad feeling.
"Is someone there?" she said, her voice firmer now, trying to sound less nervous than she actually was.
Silence.
But not an empty silence.
The kind of silence that feels like… it's watching you back.
Veronica stepped back.
Her instincts screamed at her.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
And then—
A sound.
Something falling.
Outside.
She turned quickly, her heart racing.
"Who's there?!"
Nothing.
Just the wind.
Leaves rustling.
But it didn't feel like just that.
Before she could think, she heard fast footsteps behind her.
Veronica spun around—
Leon.
"What happened?"
She let out a breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding.
"The door… it was open."
Leon immediately looked toward the entrance.
His expression changed instantly.
Cold.
Alert.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Veronica—"
"I'm not staying alone."
He hesitated for a second.
Then nodded.
"Stay behind me."
They stepped out into the garden.
The grass was damp.
The wind stronger now.
Leon scanned everything carefully—every detail, every movement.
Veronica tried to do the same… but the feeling of being watched wouldn't go away.
"There's no one," she said, though she didn't sound convinced.
Leon didn't respond.
He walked a few steps ahead.
Then stopped.
"Wait."
Veronica approached slowly.
"What is it?"
He pointed to the ground.
Footprints.
Clear marks in the damp soil.
Someone had been there.
And not long ago.
Her stomach dropped.
"This… this isn't normal."
"No."
"Do you think—"
"They were here."
The answer was direct.
No softening.
Veronica rubbed her arm, trying to hold back the chill.
"But why?"
Leon didn't answer immediately.
He kept looking around.
Thinking.
Calculating.
"To send a message."
She felt the weight of that.
"To you?"
He turned his head toward her.
"To us."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
And then, suddenly—
A flash.
Bright light from the front of the house.
They both turned.
"What was that?" Veronica said.
Leon was already moving.
"Come on."
They ran to the front of the mansion.
And then she saw it.
The car.
Leon's car.
The window was shattered.
The alarm blaring loudly in the middle of the night.
Veronica covered her mouth.
"Oh my God…"
Leon walked quickly toward the car.
The driver's side window was completely destroyed.
But that wasn't what made his body go rigid.
It was what was inside.
An envelope.
On the seat.
Leon opened the door carefully, turning off the alarm.
He picked up the envelope.
Stared at it for a second.
As if he already knew it wouldn't be anything good.
"What is it?" Veronica asked, her voice lower now.
He opened it.
Pulled out a sheet of paper.
Read it.
And for the first time…
She saw something different in him.
Not fear.
But something close to it.
Real tension.
"Leon?"
He handed her the paper.
Veronica took it.
Read it.
And felt the world tilt slightly.
"This is just the beginning.
Next time… we won't miss."
Her hands trembled.
"This… this isn't about business anymore."
"No."
"This is a threat."
Leon nodded.
"Direct."
Veronica looked around.
Suddenly, the huge mansion felt… vulnerable.
Exposed.
"Do you think it was Daniel?"
Leon answered immediately:
"No."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because this isn't his style."
She took a deep breath.
"Then who is it?"
Leon looked at the paper again.
"Someone who wants to scare us."
"It worked."
He turned to her.
"That's the point."
Silence returned.
But now… it was different.
Heavier.
More dangerous.
Veronica wrapped her arms around herself, trying to steady her breathing.
"This happened because of me, didn't it?"
"No."
"Leon—"
"It didn't."
His voice was firm.
"This would've happened anyway."
"But now I'm here."
He stepped closer.
"And now I know exactly what's at risk."
She looked up.
"What?"
Leon held her gaze for a few seconds.
"You."
Her heart skipped.
That didn't sound like strategy.
It didn't sound like protection.
It was… something more.
And that scared her.
As much as everything else.
"So what do we do now?" she asked.
Leon looked at the car, the paper, the house.
Then back at her.
"Now… we stop reacting."
She frowned.
"And do what?"
His answer came calm.
But heavy.
"We start attacking."
A chill ran down her spine.
Because in that moment…
It became clear.
This wasn't just a contract marriage story anymore.
It was a war.
And now…
They were truly in it.