The morning sun barely touched the city skyline, casting long shadows over Blackvale as Elena strode through the executive wing with new purpose. The woman the world once dismissed as a scandalized ex-wife was long gone.
Today, Elena Vales moved like a storm.
Inside the boardroom, her top executives sat in tense silence as she entered. Kira stood at her side, tablet in hand, eyes cold and alert.
"We're restructuring our security protocols across all subsidiaries," Elena began, her voice calm but firm. "That includes background checks, surveillance audits, and financial forensics. Effective immediately."
A murmur swept through the room.
"Is there a reason?" one senior partner asked, brows lifting.
Elena's gaze was glacial. "Because someone inside this company is feeding information to Desmond Vales."
Silence fell.
Another executive cleared his throat. "That's… a serious accusation, Ms. Vales."
"Good," she said. "Because I'm dead serious."
Kira flicked her tablet and brought up a series of wire transfers and surveillance photos. "Two of our division heads were recently approached by a third-party consultant linked to Vales Industries. One refused. The other... didn't."
Gasps.
A man at the end of the table stood. "That's absurd. I've never—"
"Sit down, Jared," Elena said coldly. "You're suspended until further notice. If you're clean, you'll be reinstated. If not... you won't get the chance to regret it."
Jared's face turned white. Security escorted him out.
And just like that, Blackvale remembered who was boss.
Back in her private office, Elena poured herself a drink, hands slightly trembling now that the mask had come off.
"You think Desmond will stop with moles?" Kira asked, locking the door behind her.
"No," Elena said. "He's just getting started."
Kira walked to the window. "He's baiting you."
"Let him," Elena replied. "He thinks I'll play defense. He's wrong."
Her phone buzzed. Unknown number. Scrambled signal.
She answered anyway.
"Elena," a male voice said. Familiar. Crooked with time.
"Uncle," she replied without emotion.
"Did you get my gift at the museum?"
Her hand clenched around the glass.
"You made a mistake touching my son."
Desmond laughed. "You never understood the game. Elias is a pawn in a war you inherited. You think you're protecting him, but you're just keeping him ignorant."
"He's a child," she hissed.
"He's the key, Elena."
Static crackled, and the line went dead.
Elena lowered the phone slowly. Her heart thudded like a war drum.
The key?
At Wolfe Enterprises, Alexander was busy rewriting his empire.
He had already terminated two board members for violating non-disclosure clauses and appointed a new head of internal security. But it wasn't enough. Not if Desmond was truly active.
Victor entered without knocking, dropping a file on his desk.
"Intercepted communication between Sabrina and Desmond," he said. "You're not going to like it."
Alexander flipped through the file.
Encrypted messages. Code phrases. Meeting coordinates. One stood out.
Phase Two begins with the boy.
His jaw tightened.
"Does she know Elias is mine?" he asked.
Victor hesitated. "She knows he's important. But not the bloodline. Not yet."
Alexander stood, fire in his eyes.
"Then we stop her before she does."
That night, Elena drove out of the city.
She didn't tell anyone where she was going not even Kira. Only one person had the answers she needed. Someone who owed her, deeply.
The compound was hidden in the woods, protected by a private militia and encrypted gates. As her car pulled through the security checkpoint, a woman in combat boots and a leather jacket stepped out of the shadows.
"Elena Vales," she said with a smirk. "Never thought I'd see your face again."
"Hello, Nova."
Nova Cross had been her second-in-command in the underworld years ago, back when Elena went by her alias Aelra—a name spoken in whispers and feared across continents.
"You're not here for old times," Nova said, leading her inside. "You're here for information."
"I need to know what Desmond is planning," Elena said. "And what he meant when he called Elias the key."
Nova's grin vanished.
"You didn't tell him, did you?" she asked.
"Tell who?"
"Your son."
Elena froze. "Tell him what?"
Nova poured a drink, handed it to her.
"Your family didn't just inherit wealth and scandal," she said. "They were part of a bloodline tied to an ancient vault—something hidden, dangerous. A vault Desmond has been trying to unlock for years."
Elena shook her head. "That's just legend."
"It's real," Nova said. "And it can only be opened by someone of pure Vales blood."
Elena's stomach twisted. "Elias…"
"He's the last of that bloodline. And Desmond doesn't want him dead. He wants to use him."
Meanwhile, back in the city, a sleek black car pulled up outside Elena's penthouse.
Sabrina stepped out, flanked by two men in suits.
Inside, Damon opened the door, caught off guard.
"Where's Elena?" she asked, voice smooth and poised.
"She's not here."
Sabrina smiled, stepping past him anyway. "Shame. I just wanted to see Elias."
Damon's hand subtly moved to his gun holster.
"You should leave."
Sabrina's smile turned razor sharp. "Or what? You'll shoot me? Please. You think I don't know every blind spot in this apartment?"
From the hallway, Elias peeked out—tiny face worried.
"Who are you?"
Sabrina's eyes softened, just a little. "I'm... an old friend of your father's."
The boy tilted his head. "I don't know you."
"That's alright," she said. "You will."
Damon stepped between them, blocking her view.
"You need to go. Now."
Sabrina studied Elias a second longer, then turned.
"This war isn't yours, boy," she murmured. "But you're standing right in the center of it."
And then she vanished down the hallway like smoke.
When Elena returned later that night, Damon told her everything.
She sat on Elias's bed long after he fell asleep, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest.
They wanted to use her son to unlock something tied to her family's legacy. Something old. Something dangerous.
And now Sabrina knew where to find him.
Elena whispered a silent promise to the sleeping child.
No one touches you. Not while I still draw breath.
The war had officially begun.
And Elena Vales was done playing by the rules.