The city glittered beneath her balcony, unaware of the storm brewing within the walls of her apartment. The penthouse had felt like a sanctuary yesterday, a fragile cocoon of trust rebuilt brick by brick. Today, that sanctuary was about to be tested.Her phone vibrated. A message from Ethan. She ignored it. Two hours later, another. Then a call. She silenced it.She knew he wouldn’t stop. Not when he smelled weakness. Not when he saw hesitation—the cracks Adrian had left in the early days of their renewed connection.A knock came at her door. Sharp, deliberate. She froze.“Elara,” a smooth voice said