The Art of Falling First

Cassian's Pov:

I just finished reviewing Blake Atelier's international expansion proposal when the glass doors to the New York office burst open like a hurricane.

Evageline Wolfe stormed in, dressed in black like it was a funeral hers, though she didn't know it yet.

Sienna froze mid conversation with Noah, Amara stiffened beside her, and the entire turned into glass statues.

''Everyone out.'' Evageline barked.

No one moved.

I stood slowly from the conference table. ''You're not welcome here, Eva.''

She ignored me, her eyes like ice as they landed on Sienna's. ''You think you've won, don't you? Little girl from nowhere is playing dress up with real designers. You have no idea how easily this empire can crumble.''

Sienna stepped forward. Calm. Collected. Regal. ''This empire was built on legacy, not blackmail and lies. And if you think threatening me makes you powerful, you're more desperate than I thought.''

Evageline voice cracked.  ''I made Cassian. Without me, he'd be nothing.''

''I became nothing the moment I started listening to you.'' I said. ''And everything the moment I walked away.''

She laughed. ''This business? These clients? The money, do you think I can't ruin you all with one press call?''

''That's funny.'' Came a voice behind her.

Her son. Luca Wolfe.

He stepped forward, phone in hand, expression unreadable.

''Because I made it.''

She turned, wild-eyed. ''What did you do?''

''I sent everything to the Times.'' He said. ''The fake scholarship applications. The hush money to expel students. The donations in Sienna's name were meant to discredit her. All of it.'

The room went silent.

''I told you if you crossed that line again, I'd stop protecting you.'' Luca said, his voice cold. ''You never thought I'd do it. But I'm done being your pawn.''

Eva lunged for the phone, but 2 NYPD officers emerged from the elevator before she could take another stop.

'Evageline Wolfe?' One of them said, showing his badge. 'You're under arrest for fraud, bribery, and conspiracy to deframe. You have the right to remain silent.'

She screamed, thrashed, spitting venom and threats, but it didn't matter. Her reign was over.

They handcuffed her in the lobby of Blake Atelier, where she once believed her name held all power.

Now, it was her legacy that collapsed in front of the same glass walls she'd tried to shatter.

When it was over, I turned to Luca.

''Thank you.'' I said quietly.

He looked at Sienna, then at me. ''I did it for her.''

And then he walked out. Not as a hero. Not as a villain. Just a boy who chose to break the chain.

Later that day, I found Sienna alone in her office, starring out the window.

''She's gone.'' I said gently.

She didn't turn around. ''It doesn't erase what she did.''

''No.'' I said, coming beside her. ''Now we can build without her shadow over us.''

She looked up at me, eyes unreadable.

''Cassian. I'm not scared of her anymore.'' She whispered. ''I'm scared of trusting you completely.''

''Then don't trust who I was.'' I said. ''Trust who I am now. And who'll keep choosing to be for you.''

Her lips parted. Her walls trembled.

And though she didn't say it, I saw the crack of light returning.