Crowned In Shadows

Lorenzo (POV):

The room is on edge.

The silence that follows Val's words is heavy-suffocating.

Nathan's hands are still trembling as he stares at the evidence, his face pale. His father had walked out without a word, and that silence speaks louder than any excuse ever could.

Because the truth is out.

And it's ugly.

Val is still in my lap, completely unfazed by the storm she's just unleashed. My arm around her waist tightens, a silent reassurance that I'm here.

Not that she needs it.

She's not scared.

She's just getting started.

Nick exhales sharply from across the table, pinching the bridge of his nose like he already knows what's coming next.

"What the hell is this, Nyx?"

nick says his is voice is tight, barely controlled.

She doesn't answer immediately. Instead, she leans back against me, comfortable. Her fingers trace absent patterns over my forearm, like she has all the time in the world.

Then-finally-she speaks.

"It means everything you thought was true?"

A pause.

Then she smirks.

"It isn't."

The weight of those words settles into the room like a bomb waiting to go off.

Nick's jaw tightens.

Nathan is still processing.

The other families shift in their seats, waiting, watching.

And then-

Hugo scoffs.

The Swedish mafia boss leans back, arms crossed, giving Val a pointed look.

"Who the hell do you think you are, coming in here, making accusations?"

His tone is condescending. Dismissive.

Like he doesn't realize who he's talking to.

Big fucking mistake.

I feel the instant shift in Val.

Her body tenses in my hold-just for a second-before she laughs.

Soft. Deadly.

Then, before anyone can blink-

She moves.

She slides out of my lap in one smooth motion, standing with a grace that is unnerving.

And then, right there, in front of everyone-

She reaches up and pulls off her mask.

The world stops.

A sharp gasp.

A chair scrapes back violently.

Nick stiffens.

And Hugo?

His face drains of color.

Because now, there's no mistaking her.