The heavy glass door clicked shut behind them. The thumping bass of the party was instantly muted. The cold Manhattan night wind whipped across the terrace, biting into Corinne's exposed skin.

"Hey!" Candi barked from behind her. Her voice was thick with arrogant entitlement.

Corinne stopped. She turned around slowly. The fragile, terrified mask she had worn all night dissolved into the chilling wind. Her face settled into a mask of absolute, terrifying stillness.

Candi marched forward, her heels clicking aggressively on the stone tiles. "You think you can play the victim in front of Justus Wilson and make me look bad? You're nothing but a pathetic whore."

Corinne didn't say a word. She just stared at Candi. Her eyes were completely dead, looking at the woman as if she were already a corpse.

The total silence infuriated Candi. The lack of fear was an insult. Candi's face twisted in rage. She pulled her arm back, her hand raised high, aiming a vicious slap directly at Corinne's face.

The heavy diamond ring on Candi's finger caught the moonlight. If that hit connected, it would tear Corinne's cheek open.

Corinne's eyes tracked the trajectory of the hand. Her brain's tactical analysis kicked in, processing the speed and angle in a fraction of a second.

Just as the palm descended, Corinne shifted her weight. She pivoted her torso a mere two inches. The slap sliced through empty air.

Before Candi could recover her balance, Corinne's left hand shot out like a viper. She clamped her fingers around Candi's wrist like a steel vice. Simultaneously, her right hand gripped Candi's forearm.

Using Candi's own aggressive forward momentum, Corinne panicked and threw up her hands. She delivered a desperate, clumsy shove that sent the off-balance Candi stumbling backward over her own stiletto heels.

Candi's ankles twisted violently. Her body flailed backward in a chaotic, uncontrolled arc. She slammed heavily onto the hard stone tiles of the terrace with a sickening thud.

A sharp, agonizing scream ripped out of Candi's throat. The crisp, unmistakable sound of a bone snapping echoed in the cold air. Candi curled into a fetal position, clutching her rapidly swelling wrist, sobbing hysterically.

Corinne stood perfectly still. Her breathing hadn't even elevated. The hem of her velvet dress settled elegantly around her ankles.

The glass doors burst open. Evelina, followed by Corwin and several guests, rushed onto the terrace. They froze at the sight of Candi writhing on the ground.

Evelina gasped loudly. She ran to Candi, dropping to her knees. But her eyes shot up, glaring at Corinne with absolute venom.

Instantly, Corinne slapped both hands over her mouth. Her eyes widened in horror. She forced her shoulders to shake violently, backing away until she hit the glass railing.

"She... she tried to hit me!" Corinne stammered, her voice cracking with fake panic. "I just... I just put my hands up to block her, and she tripped!"

"You liar!" Evelina shrieked, pointing a shaking finger at Corinne. "You're a psycho! You attacked her!"

Corwin stepped out of the shadows. His dark eyes darted from Candi's twisted wrist to Corinne's trembling, terrified form pressing against the railing.

"She broke my arm!" Candi wailed, tears streaming down her face. "Corwin, call the police! Have her arrested!"

Justus stepped out from behind Corwin. He calmly walked over and stood directly in front of Corinne, shielding her from the crowd. He let out a low, mocking laugh.

"Call the police," Justus agreed smoothly. He raised his hand and pointed toward the upper corner of the terrace wall. "I'm sure the security cameras caught everything. Including who threw the first punch."

The red recording light on the dome camera blinked steadily in the dark.

Evelina's face went chalk white. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. She knew Candi had followed Corinne out here to start a fight.

Corwin stared at the camera, then back at Justus guarding Corinne. His jaw locked. His eyes were pitch black, unreadable, but he didn't say a single word.

Corinne peeked out from behind Justus's broad shoulder. She met Corwin's gaze. For one split second, the fear vanished from her eyes, replaced by a sharp, mocking gleam.

"I think we've had enough socializing for one night," Justus announced loudly. "This crowd is getting a bit too aggressive for our taste."

He wrapped his arm securely around Corinne's waist and guided her toward the doors. He left the chaotic terrace and Evelina's furious face behind.

As they turned the corner into the hallway, Corinne dropped the trembling act entirely. A cold, satisfied smile touched her lips. The first drop of blood had been drawn.

Chapter 4

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