A Betrayal Exposed

The city of Verdonia, bathed in the muted glow of twilight, felt eerily calm compared to the storm brewing inside Maximilian’s safe house. Anastasia sat before the sprawling evidence board—photographs, maps, ledgers—everything they had gathered in their long war against the corruption strangling the city. But despite the progress they had made, something was wrong. Their enemies were always one step ahead, and now, a chilling realization had settled into Anastasia’s mind: the danger wasn’t just lurking outside. The enemy was within their walls.

Behind her, Maximilian’s restless pacing filled the room with quiet tension. His usually commanding presence felt shaky, as though something heavy had shifted in him, turning that rock-solid determination into a grim uncertainty. Anastasia had seen him like this only once before—when Luca had betrayed them. And now, facing yet another betrayal, it felt too raw, too much to bear.