Chapter 21: The Masked Enemy
The city lights shimmered below Cambria’s penthouse, but her thoughts were as dark as the night that surrounded her. The video of Julian, beaten and terrified, played on an endless loop in her mind. It was a trap, she knew it. Elena was no fool; she never did anything without an agenda. And the woman had just made it personal.
Cambria stood by the window, her fingers curling around the edge of the glass. Elara’s voice broke through the silence, sharp, urgent.
"Cambria, you can’t be serious about this. Saving Julian? After everything he’s done?"
Her eyes flicked over to her sister, who was pacing in the center of the room. Elara’s face was tight with disbelief, her brows furrowed in confusion and concern.
"I know what you’re thinking," Cambria said, her voice low but steady. "But this isn’t just about revenge anymore. It never was. Not really."
Elara stopped pacing, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Then what is it about, Cambria?"
"It’s about power," Cambria replied, turning toward her. "The kind of power Elena thinks she has. The kind she’ll stop at nothing to wield."
"And what, you’re going to play right into her hands?"
"Not play into her hands," Cambria said, her voice growing firmer. "I’m going to take control of the game. And for that, I need Julian."
There was a long silence between them as Elara processed her words, her mind working at full speed.
"And if he doesn’t want your help?" Elara asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "What then?"