CHAPTER 1 — “THE DEVIL WHO CAME BACK”
The ballroom froze.
The sound of armored engines still echoed through the shattered silence when Damien Rowe stepped forward.
His shoes hit the marble slowly. Deliberately.
Every guest instinctively moved back.
Chloe’s phone was still recording—but her hand was shaking now.
Damien didn’t look at anyone else.
Only Maren.
On the floor.
Bleeding. Breathing uneven. One hand protecting her belly.
A whisper escaped him.
Damien: “Maren…”
Her eyes widened.
She didn’t believe it.
Maren: “No… no, you’re not—”
He dropped to one knee instantly. Not caring about the crowd. Not caring about blood staining his suit.
His hand hovered above her face, trembling for the first time in years.
Damien (low): “Who did this to you?”
Maren’s lips shook.
Maren: “They said you were dead…”
His jaw tightened.
Slowly, he turned his head.
The entire room felt the temperature drop.
Damien: “Which one touched her?”
Silence.
Then Chloe forced a laugh.
Chloe: “She’s lying. She’s just a janitor—”
Damien stood up.
May you like
That was all it took.
The laughter died instantly.
