Elizabeth stared at Sarah’s chat bubble on the screen. The words "Michael" and "chaotic" were enough to stir up a cloud of unease in her heart. She didn't want to dwell on those moments of vulnerability.

Elizabeth: [It’s late. Time to sleep.]

Sarah: [Wait! Elizabeth! You’re avoiding the question. Is he still being that cold, overbearing CEO? You can’t just let him dictate your life forever!]

Elizabeth decided not to reply. Sarah meant well, but she didn't understand the intricate cage Elizabeth was trapped in. She set her phone aside, her mind wandering back to the glimpses of Michael she had seen lately—moments where the ice seemed to crack, only to be replaced by a chilling intensity.

The Golden Plate Bistro

Across town, Margaret and her brother, Samuel Taylor, were deep in conversation over a quiet dinner. Samuel, having flown in from Atheria, looked at his sister with a mixture of pity and frustration.

"Margaret, you know why our parents sent me here," Samuel began, leaning in. "They want you home. You’ve spent over a decade in Aurora Bay chasing a man who refuses to see you."

Margaret swirled her wine, the deep red liquid reflecting the dim light. "They just think I’m failing, Samuel. They think if I haven't won Michael over by now, I never will."

"It’s not about winning or losing," Samuel sighed, cutting into his steak. "I regret introducing you to him all those years ago. You’ve built this version of Michael in your head—handsome, brilliant, the king of Stellar Enterprises. But do you really know the real Michael Thomas?"

Margaret’s eyes flashed with indignation. "I’ve been by his side for ten years, Samuel. No one knows him better. And yet, he looks at Elizabeth—a woman he’s known for months—with a focus he’s never given me."

Samuel shook his head, a cold glint in his eyes. "That’s why I’m here. You think I invested $500 million in Elizabeth’s company to help her? I’m here to play the long game. If I can draw her attention away from Michael, his little 'distraction' will vanish, and he'll be forced to see what he lost in you."

Margaret looked at her brother, her eyes reddening. "Sometimes I feel like I can't hold on anymore. But to me, Michael is the only one who matters. In a crowd, everyone else is just a blur."

Samuel reached across the table, gently squeezing her hand. "Margaret, you’re a Taylor. You don’t have to beg for affection. I want Michael to understand the pain of loss. I want him to experience exactly what he’s put you through. He thinks he can just take whatever he wants without consequence."

He lowered his voice, his expression turning grim. "But more than that, I want you to be safe. You see a brilliant businessman, but I know the history he tried to bury. He’s not just cold, Margaret. Back then, when his father died... the circumstances were far from accidental. Michael is dangerous. He has blood on his hands."

Margaret froze, her wine glass halfway to her lips. The bitterness of the wine suddenly seemed to match the weight of Samuel’s words. As she stared at her brother, she realized that the man she loved might be a stranger she should actually fear.