WHEN THE TRUTH BLEEDS

Location: Venice - Elira's Hidden Studio

Time: 12:23 a.m.

The studio was carved into the ruins of an old glass factory, tucked deep within the city's forgotten canals. Every surface glowed with candlelight, shadows licking at cracked portraits and sculptures of distorted faces.

Amira stood silently in the middle of it all, her pulse loud in her ears.

Elira Vale alive, defiant, hollow-eyed set two teacups down without saying a word.

No hugs. No relief.

Only the weight of secrets too dangerous to die.

"Why didn't you come back?" Amira asked.

Elira gave her a long, unreadable look. "Because I wasn't sure which Carter brother wanted me dead more."

Silence.

Then: "I need to know what happened to my sister."

"You sure?" Elira's voice was quiet, sharp. "Because once I tell you… you can't un-know it."

"I don't care. I want the truth."

Elira stared into her tea like it might answer for her.

Then she spoke.

Flashback – Two Years Ago, Carter Summer Estate

Celeste had found something.

A list of offshore accounts linked to Carter Investments… and a fund created in her name. A fund meant to be cashed in only if she died.

She thought it was a mistake. A glitch.

Until she showed it to Theo.

And three days later, she went missing.

Back to Present

"I warned Zion," Elira said. "I told him someone was planning to silence her. He said he'd handle it. I thought he meant protect her."

Amira's hands were trembling.

"But he didn't," Elira continued. "He let Dominic take control. You know what that means, don't you?"

Amira's voice cracked. "He gave her up."

Elira nodded once.

"He didn't kill her. But he opened the door for the man who did."

Deeper Truth -The Betrayal

Elira handed Amira a flash drive. "There's a recording on here. From the estate's security room. It's been hidden for years."

Amira plugged it into her phone. Pressed play.

Celeste's voice, panicked:

"You said you'd protect me. You said I'd be safe."

Theo's voice:

"I'm trying...."

A third voice: Dominic's. Calm. Deadly:

"It's too late. You should've stayed quiet."

Celeste: "No! Don't...."

The audio cut.

Amira's stomach twisted.

Her sister hadn't just died.

She was executed.

Amira's Mind, Fractured

Everything blurred. The Carter empire. The fame. The luxury. Zion's gentle lies. Theo's charm. Rosalie's fear.

She had loved a man who had handed her sister to wolves.

She had trusted him.

Elira's Final Warning

"You're in deep now, Fontaine. Deeper than you know."

"I'm not backing out," Amira said.

"You will. Once you realize who's next."

"What do you mean?"

Elira's eyes glinted.

"They're not done killing. And next time, they won't go for the sister."

Zion's Penthouse - simultaneously

Zion poured a drink with trembling hands. He hadn't heard from Amira in over 12 hours.

Then came the knock.

Dominic stepped in.

"She's in Venice," Dominic said. "With Elira."

Zion's expression went cold.

"She knows?"

Dominic gave a cruel smile. "She doesn't know the whole story. But she will."

He tossed a photo onto the bar.

It was of Amira and Elira, side by side.

Zion stared at it like it might kill him.

"Then it's time we finish what we started."