Chapter 48

Elena's POV

I didn't look back as I stepped out of the boardroom, the murmurs and shocked whispers trailing behind me like ghosts. The weight of their defeat lifted me, but the air still thrummed with tension.

Suddenly, sharp footsteps echoed behind me.

"Wait." Clarissa's voice sliced through the hallway—cold and furious.

I turned to see her, eyes blazing with a dangerous fire. Her lips curled into a bitter smile. "This isn't over, Elena. Not by a long shot."

I met her glare evenly, feeling a calm certainty settle over me. "It never is."

With that, I walked away, leaving her seething in my wake.

The battle was won—but the war was far from finished.

I kept my pace steady, not giving Clarissa the satisfaction of watching me flinch. Her words echoed in my ears, but I refused to let fear take root again. She was angry, dangerous—but I was ready.