Raina's estate was silent again.
The moonlight stretched across the marble floors, catching the edge of the silver blade on her desk. She had changed into an oversized black shirt, hair loosely tied, bare feet silent as she moved through the dim study.
Her wine glass was nearly empty.
Her eyes were far emptier.
She closed Selena's music box with a soft click, letting the last note fade.
Just as she exhaled—
a knock.
Not on her front door.
Her study door.
Raina didn't flinch. "Enter."
Albert stepped inside, his posture firm, expression unreadable.
> "A package arrived for you, Miss Raina."
He held out a flat black envelope—no stamp, no seal, no handwriting.
Raina frowned. "From?"
> "No courier. It was placed at the front gate."
"By who?"
"The cameras saw no one."
Raina's jaw tightened.
She took the envelope carefully. It felt heavier than paper—heavy like secrets.
Inside was a single folded letter.
She opened it.
Her heart stopped.
It was Selena's handwriting.
Albert watched her stiffen. "Miss—are you—"
> "Leave," Raina said quietly.
Albert bowed and stepped out, closing the door.
Raina unfolded the paper with shaking fingers.
The letter was written ten days before Selena died.
---
Raina…
If you're reading this, something has happened to me.
And if something has happened to me… it wasn't an accident.
Someone's been following me. Watching me. Entering my room while I sleep. Chloe says I'm imagining things, but I know I'm not.
If I disappear—or die—don't trust anyone.
Except Lucian.
And the twins.
But above all… don't let them bury the truth.
— Selena
---
Raina dropped the letter on the desk like it burned her.
Her face didn't change.
Her breath didn't waver.
But her hands trembled once—just once—before she forced them still.
She picked up her wine glass, stared at her reflection in the red surface, and whispered:
> "You were scared, Lena… and I wasn't here."
A tear didn't fall.
They don't fall from a woman who has already burned.
She placed the glass down, her voice turning cold as winter metal:
> "Whoever did this… didn't just kill you."
She reached for her blade.
> "They declared war on me."
The music box clicked behind her—
on its own.
The same tune began to play.
Raina didn't look back.