Chapter 48: All Because of Her

Chris stood by the massive floor-to-ceiling window of his penthouse, staring at the glittering city below. The night was quiet, but his mind wasn't.

Wren Lancaster was dead.

His empire, his wealth, his entire existence—all wiped away, absorbed into Blackwood without the world even realizing it. And all of this… because of her.

Skylar.

Chris exhaled, his jaw tightening. She had no idea. No idea that a war had been waged in the shadows, that a man had been eliminated—all because he got too close to her.

Ethan stepped forward, watching Chris carefully. "So… what now?"

Chris didn't answer immediately. His fingers curled into a fist as he thought about how it all started.

Zayne's arrogance.

Wren's interference.

Skylar caught between it all.

His voice was low when he finally spoke. "Nothing changes. We move forward like always."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "And Skylar?"

Chris's expression didn't soften. She couldn't know.

If she knew the extent of what had happened—what he had done—she might never look at him the same way again.

"She stays in the dark," he said firmly. "She'll never know what this cost."

Ethan smirked. "And what if she does find out?"

Chris's eyes darkened. That wasn't an option.

"She won't."

Ethan chuckled. "You're really willing to burn down the world for her, huh?"

Chris turned, his expression unreadable. "I already have."

Because in the end, it wasn't just Wren who had lost everything.

Chris had lost something, too.

A part of himself.

And the most dangerous part?

He wasn't sure he even cared.