I demand to see Orion

Lord Marius turned slowly, his gaze fixed on the desk where letters and documents lay scattered. The soft glow of the flickering candlelight played across the papers, the faint scent of ink and parchment filling the air. His mind raced, each thought unraveling another thread in the web of deceit that surrounded him.

The timing, the ambition, the boldness required to commit such a betrayal, it all pointed to one person.

"Viviana," he whispered, the name leaving his lips like a curse. "It was you all along."

The words hung in the air, heavy with disbelief and bitterness. His shoulders slumped as he sank back into his chair, the weight of the realization hitting him like a physical blow. His hand moved to his temple, massaging it as though trying to ease the storm raging in his mind.