This Is War, and Collete Doesn’t Lose.

Collete sits in her luxurious office, tapping her perfectly manicured nails against the glass desk. Her eyes flicker toward the clock—she's waiting for a call.

Everything is in place now, the plan to dig up every dirty secret Aurora might be hiding.

Collete is tired of the games, tired of the sweet, innocent act Aurora's been playing ever since she returned to the mansion.

"I know you're hiding something," Collete whispers to herself, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

The phone rings, and she answers immediately. "Is everything set?"

On the other end, the investigator she hired, a man named Harris, speaks in a low, serious voice. "We've gathered quite a bit of information already. She's been very careful, but everyone has a skeleton or two."

Collete leans back in her chair, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "Good. I want everything. I don't care how small it seems. I want something that will destroy her."

Harris pauses for a moment. "You sure about this? Going after her like this... it could backfire."

Collete's smile fades. She's not one to be questioned. "I pay you to do your job, Harris. Do it. And don't forget—she's not as innocent as she seems. There's something off about how she just disappeared for all those years, and now she's back, playing the doting mother. She's hiding something, and when we find it, I'll have the upper hand."

Harris sighs but agrees. "I'll keep digging."

After the call, Collete stands and moves to the large window overlooking the city.

From up here, everything looks so small, like little pieces on a chessboard.

Aurora, Daemon, even her precious triplets—they are all pieces in this game. And Collete is determined to be the one who wins.

She clenches her fists. Ever since Aurora came back, Collete's control over the family has slipped.

Daemon, too calm as ever, is too blind to see what's really happening. He's too wrapped up in his guilt and indifference, too busy trying to make up for the past.

But Collete knows better. Aurora isn't some fragile victim; she's a threat. And Collete doesn't tolerate threats.

Earlier today, their confrontation had been another reminder of that.

Aurora had actually stood up to her, right in front of the staff. Collete hadn't expected that, and it infuriates her.

The arrogance, the nerve of her! It had taken everything in Collete not to slap her across the face right then and there.

But she's smarter than that. She knows this battle won't be won with violence—it'll be won with strategy.

Hiring the investigator is just the beginning.

Collete knows that she'll find something on Aurora, something that will give her the power to finally push her out for good.

Once Aurora is gone, Collete can focus on what really matters—keeping the triplets and maintaining her control over the family.

After all, those children are the future, and Aurora doesn't deserve them. Not after all she's done.

As the afternoon sun begins to set, Collete returns to her desk, her mind racing with ideas.

Harris had mentioned finding some leads about Aurora's time in Sweden.

Collete plans to pursue those with full force. If Aurora has secrets from her time abroad, Collete will uncover them, and she'll use them to tear Aurora down.

Collete's phone buzzes again. It's a message from Harris.

"This is just the beginning," Collete mutters under her breath.

While Collete plots and schemes, she knows she has to play the part of the doting mother-in-law in front of everyone else.

She's careful, always maintaining her image. She knows how to manipulate Daemon and how to get under Aurora's skin.

But what really drives her is the thought of those triplets. They are the key to her power, the legacy she plans to control.

Aurora may be their mother, but Collete has always seen herself as the one who truly knows what's best for them.

As night falls, Collete thinks about the conversation she'll have with Daemon tomorrow.

She needs to plant more doubts in his mind about Aurora.

She knows Daemon still feels guilty for what happened between them in the past, and Collete intends to use that guilt to her advantage.

She sighs, feeling a wave of satisfaction wash over her.

Everything is falling into place. Aurora may think she's in control now, but Collete knows better. It's only a matter of time before the truth comes out.

And when it does, Aurora will be the one left with nothing.

Collete leans back in her chair, smiling to herself. She can already picture the moment when everything falls apart for Aurora. The humiliation, the shame—it will be glorious.

This is war, and Collete doesn't lose.