Chapter 4 — Uneasy Beginnings

Sienna

The gates of the De Luca estate loomed before Sienna like the mouth of a gilded prison, their wrought iron curves twisting into serpentine shapes that glinted in the late afternoon sun. The design was both mesmerizing and menacing, a blend of artistry and control that left her breathless in the worst way. Every step she took closer to the entrance felt heavier, as though invisible chains tightened around her ankles. Behind her, the sleek black car that had ferried her from her art studio to this fortress of power hummed softly, its presence a quiet reminder that her old life was now out of reach.