[Evelina’s POV—Vinter’s Mansion—Continuation]
The system’s glow vanished and the silence it left behind was worse.
Alina squeezed my hand. "Aunty? Why do you look like that?"
I forced a smile. "Nothing, sweetheart. Just thinking."
My eyes drifted across the hall—new guards, new servants, fresh uniforms, unfamiliar postures. Theo had replaced everyone and scrubbed the mansion clean like a battlefield after rain. And yet—
The final episode begins with Alina’s kidnapping.
Which ant one thing: soone here belonged to Cassian.
My fingers tightened around Alina’s hand as my thoughts spiraled—sharp, cold, and unforgiving.
If Alina gets kidnapped, Cassian dies. If Cassian dies, Theo’s greatest nightmare ends. If Theo’s nightmare ends... I go ho.
Back to my world. Back to quiet mornings and empty rooms. Back to a life where no Theo will be clingy to and look at like...I am his.
The ga had made it so simple.
Too simple...yet why do I feel so heavy?
"Aunty," Alina tugged gently, peering up at with those golden eyes that had seen too much for soone so small. "Let’s go eat. I’m hungry."
The words cut deeper than any threat.
I looked down at her—this child who had learned how to stay silent during attacks, who knew the sound of guns before lullabies, who had watched blood pool on marble floors and learned not to scream.
She had already endured pain. Betrayal. Fear. Murder.
Being kidnapped wouldn’t kill her.
Cassian wouldn’t damage his bargaining chip. He needed her alive. Whole.
The system knew that.
So why does my chest hurt like this?
I knelt slowly, bringing myself down to her height. "Alina," I asked softly, "if sothing scary happens... would you be brave?"
She nodded without hesitation. "I’m always brave. Uncle says I am."
Of course he did.
My throat tightened. Because that was the problem. The ga wanted to let her be taken. To treat her fear as a temporary inconvenience. To see her pain as a stepping stone toward my freedom.
I straightened slowly, my gaze lifting to the mansion around us—this gilded cage of secrets and blood.
Is that what winning looks like? Letting a child be used as bait?
I exhaled slowly, steadying myself.
No. I might be playing a ga, but I wasn’t a monster. Not like Cassian. Not like the system.
I squeezed Alina’s hand gently and smiled again—this ti, it was real.
"Alright," I said. "Let’s eat."
She bead and started tugging toward the dining room. As we walked, I made my decision—clear, irreversible. If the system wanted Alina kidnapped to end this story... Then I would let the kidnapping begin—but I would decide how it ended.
Not by sacrificing a child.
But by turning the final episode into a massacre, the system never calculated.
Cassian wanted leverage.
The system wanted a clean ending.
Theo wanted his family safe.
And I?
I wanted all of it—without letting a six-year-old pay the price. My grip tightened just a little around Alina’s hand as we crossed the threshold into the dining hall.
Co for her, Cassian Vinter. I’ll be waiting.
***
[Later—Dining Room]
Alina sat on the high chair, swinging her legs back and forth, crumbs dotting the corner of her lips as she ate her sandwich with peaceful focus.
I sat close enough that her knee brushed my arm.
Close enough to shield.
Behind , Rowan stood like a shadow carved into stone.
"You look guarded, Miss," he said quietly.
I didn’t turn. My eyes stayed on Alina. "Do I?"
He nodded once.
I exhaled slowly. "He trusted her with . That makes her my responsibility now."
Not a responsibility.
A vow.
Before Rowan could reply—SLAM.
The dining room doors burst open.
A guard stumbled in, breath ragged, face drained of color. The sound alone was enough—my spine went rigid, and Rowan moved instantly, stepping in front of us without a word, body angled to block every line of sight.
"What’s the matter?" Rowan demanded, voice sharp.
"I—I apologize, sir," the guard panted. "But... there’s a car outside."
"A car?" I asked calmly, though my pulse had already begun to climb.
"Yes, Miss." He swallowed hard. "It belongs to Cassian Vinter."
Silence crashed down.
Alina’s fingers curled into my sleeve, clutching tight. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders automatically, grounding her—and myself.
I knew it.
I had known it.
There was no other explanation. Theo’s travel plans were locked down tighter than state secrets. Only a handful of people knew. Which ant—Soone here had spoken.
No...it’s confird that soone here belonged to him.
I lifted my gaze, scanning the room—guards, servants, exits, and reflections in polished silverware. Every face looked loyal. Every posture obedient.
Too obedient.
"Rowan," I murmured.
"I’m alert, Miss," he replied instantly.
Good.
I glanced at the table, my eyes catching the gleam of steel tucked between apples and oranges. A knife. I reached out smoothly, fingers closing around the handle.
"This will do," I whispered.
Alina noticed.
Her grip tightened. "Aunty... are you leaving alone?"
I turned fully to her now, lowering myself so she could see my eyes clearly. Steady. Unafraid.
"No, sweetheart," I said softly. "Aunty will protect you."
Her breathing slowed—just a little. I picked up her fork and pressed it gently into her small hand.
"Listen to ," I said, voice low but firm. "Always rember one thing."
Her eyes stayed locked on mine.
"When you’re in trouble," I continued, "don’t wait for soone to save you. Fight. Fight until help cos. And if help doesn’t co...make sure you survive and reach a safe place. Got it?"
She nodded, jaw set with a seriousness no child should have to learn so young. She held the fork like a weapon—clumsy, but determined.
"I will protect myself, Aunty," she said.
My chest tightened. I leaned forward and kissed her forehead, lingering just a second longer than necessary.
"That’s my brave girl," I whispered.
Behind us, the mansion seed to hold its breath.
Cassian Vinter had arrived.
Not with force.
Not with gunfire.
But with intent.
And I had a knife in my hand, a child at my side, and a promise to keep—no matter what the system wanted.
***
[Outside the Vinter Mansion—Later]
The doors closed behind us with a dull, final thud. The air outside felt different—thicker, heavier, like the mansion itself was holding its breath.
Beyond the iron gate stood Cassian Vinter.
He leaned lazily against a sleek black car, hands tucked into his pockets as if this were a casual visit and not an invasion. Behind him, his n stood spread out in a perfect arc—guns visible, fingers loose on triggers, confidence dripping from their posture.
"Rowan," I said calmly, without looking back. "Stay with Alina."
"Yes, Miss."
Alina’s small fingers tightened around his sleeve.
I lifted my chin. "Open the gate."
The iron groaned as it parted. Cassian straightened, eyes locking onto the mont the space between us vanished. His lips curved—slow, indulgent, vile.
"Finally," he drawled, voice smooth as oil. "We’ve t, Evelina Hart—"
"Just Evelina," I cut in flatly.
For a fraction of a second, he blinked.
Then he laughed softly, amused rather than offended. "Interesting. No one has ever dared cut off like that."
His gaze sharpened. "Not even my dearest brother."
I stared at him without flinching. "So what? You fell for ?"
His smile widened, predatory. Before he could answer, his eyes slid past —toward Alina. Toward the fork clenched in her tiny hand.
He let out a short laugh. "Pfft—!" He shook his head mockingly. "What am I seeing? My baby girl... holding a fork?"
His gaze darkened instantly, his voice dropping into sothing sharp and cruel.
"Do you really think," he said slowly, "a re fork can protect my child?"
Alina flinched.
Her hand trembled. She pressed closer to Rowan, fingers burying into his sleeve, breath hitching as fear finally broke through her brave little mask.
That was enough.
I stepped forward.
Deliberately.
Placing myself fully between Cassian and Alina. Cassian’s eyes flicked back to mine, irritation flashing. "Ah, protective already—"
"Co to the point," I interrupted, voice razor-sharp. "Why are you here with your shitty face?"
A surprised gasp escaped him.
Then he laughed—loud, incredulous. "Shitty face? You’re bold. I look far better than my brother."
I tilted my head, studying him openly.
"Still makes want to puke," I said calmly. Then added, scanning him from head to toe, "Probably because you’re so rotten inside that the stench finally started leaking out."
The air snapped.
Cassian’s smile thinned—not gone, but sharpened into sothing dangerous. His n shifted subtly behind him.
"You have a sharp tongue," he said softly. "Careful. Sharp things break easily."
"Funny," I replied. "That’s exactly what your daughter’s father said once—right before he realized threats don’t work on people who’ve already decided you’re dead."
Cassian’s eyes burned.
"Ah," he murmured. "Now I see why Theo listens to you."
His gaze slid over slowly—evaluating, claiming. "You’re not afraid of ."
"No," I agreed. "I’m disgusted."
Silence stretched, coiled and dangerous. Behind , Alina’s fork trembled—but she didn’t drop it.
And Cassian Vinter?
He smiled wider.
Because n like him didn’t mistake disgust for weakness. They mistook it for a challenge and I had just thrown one at his feet.
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