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Chapter 19

Laugh remained frozen, his hand rising slowly to touch his reddening cheek, stunned duele written across his unshaven face.

“You’re… real?” he whispered, staring at her as if she might evaporate

Ariana had reached her absolute limit with this absurd day. She laughed a sharp, brittle sound utterly

devoid of humor.

“Real? Sure. Apparently I’m trapped in a real–life horror movie where my supposed death wasn’t enough to get you out of my life.”

Without deigning to look at him again, she pivoted sharply toward the staircase.

“Ariana, wait–please!”

Luigi lunged after her, alcohol and desperation making his movements clumsy. As he grabbed for her wrist, the combination of his unsteady state and her quick evasion created disaster–her foot slipped on the polished marble step.

“Look out!”

Despite his impaired reflexes, Luigi managed to pull her against him as they fell, positioning his body to take the impact.

Their bodies hit the marble stairs with a sickening thud that echoed through the foyer.

Cushioned by Luigi’s intervention, Ariana escaped with minor disorientation. Luigi, however, wasn’t as fortunate–a crimson stain began spreading across the white marble beneath his head.

“Sir!” Davis’s horrified voice cut through the sudden stunned silence.

erupted into controlled chaos as medical protocols were activated. Within

decided it was finally

and headed confidently for the main entrance, only to find her path. blocked by two female security staff in

hardened into glacial contempt. “Move.”

“Ms. Collins, we have strict instructions that you’re not

1121

Revenge Pirouette. The 9976. GË

premises without Mr.

disbelieving laugh escap felony

me prisoner? In 2025? That’s a

formulate a response, she attempted to

between following their employer’s orders and physically restraining a clearly unwilling woman, the security team hesitated to use force, instead trailing after

please reconsider–Mr. Maggiore was

accelerated Ariana’s determined stride toward

freedom appeared within reach, a black sedan with tinted windows glided to a stop directly in her path. The rear door swung open to reveal

unsettling combination of

her features. “It makes my skin crawl hearing it in your

She’d recognized the reality that neither she nor her

or influence.

strategy had been calculated avoidance–minimal contact, neutral responses if they did encounter. each

her careful restraint would be misinterpreted. Her silence read as invitation. Her avoidance as challenge.

systematically ignored. When blocked, he’d found new channels, seemingly content that she remained somewhere within his orbit.

the pretense of boundaries–attempting

your fucking mind?” she demanded, years of suppressed fury finally breaking through. “What

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