In the midst of the heated exchange between Alia and Viktor, Anashia stepped out from the shadows. The sound of his heavy boots echoed through the drawing room as he walked toward Alia with a predatory, observant gaze. He stopped right in front of her and leaned in, sniffing the air with a twisted expression.
Anashia smirked and said in a mocking, condescending tone:
Anashia: "Where were you, Alia? And what is this? There's a distinct smell clinging to you the scent of someone else, someone else's presence... cheap, yet potent."
Viktor's brows furrowed as he glared at Alia. The memories of last night were still fresh, and Anashia's comment felt like gasoline on a fire.
Alia, however, didn't flinch. She locked eyes with Anashia and stepped closer. Instead of fear, her eyes burned with the fire of retribution. Pretending to straighten his collar, she whispered
Alia: "You're absolutely right, Anashia. It's the scent of someone else, the mark of a different touch. To escape your savage dominance last night, I sought my own path. And believe me, that scent was far fresher and more tolerable than the stench of your monstrous cruelty."
The room fell into a dead silence at her blunt confession. Viktor was trembling with rage, while Anashia seemed stunned by her audacity. Holding her head high, Alia walked past them both with utter contempt, heading toward her room, signaling that from today, the rules of this game were in her hands. At that very moment, Anashia entered the room silently, moving like a shadow. He walked past Alia and stopped right beside Viktor, placing his heavy hand firmly on Viktor's shoulder. A sadistic glee glinted in Anashia's eyes.
He leaned in and whispered into Viktor's ear, "Did you see that, Viktor? Your CIA agent is no longer the puppet she used to be. Did you see how she just insulted both of us in our own home? What are you going to do about this today?"
Anashia's words were like gasoline on the fire of Viktor's pride. He was desperate to shatter Viktor's last shred of restraint. Viktor, having lost the control he once held over Alia, was simmering with a rage that had finally reached its boiling point.
Alia stood still, watching them with a cold, fearless gaze. Viktor shoved Anashia's hand off his shoulder and let out a roar that shook the room, his eyes bloodshot with pure fury.
He kicked the table aside and yelled
Viktor: "What am I going to do? You want to know what I'm going to do? Today, I will teach her a lesson she will never forget for the rest of her life! I'll show her exactly who she's dealing with for daring to challenge me in my own palace. Tonight will be a night where she forgets even her own existence!"
Viktor's roar echoed throughout the mansion. Alia remained silent, but inside, she was preparing for war. She knew that there would be no more hiding today was the day for an all-out confrontation. Anashia didn't miss a beat, pouring fuel onto the already raging fire of Viktor's fury. He began to circle Viktor slowly, like a predator circling its prey before the final strike. The twisted smirk on his lips was tearing away the last shred of Viktor's patience.
Anashia spoke in a slow, venomous tone, "You can only shout, Viktor, but where is the action? What happened to your legendary dominance? The girl who surrendered herself completely in my arms last night is now standing right before your eyes, mocking you, walking all over you and you're just watching!"
Anashia cast a lewd glance at Alia, trying to insult her once more right in front of Viktor. He turned back to Viktor and sneered, "She's not that trembling CIA agent anymore. She's intoxicated by someone else now. I think the root of her defiance is another man. Have you become so weak that you can't even keep one woman in your own palace in check?"
Each of Anashia's words hit like a poisoned arrow, striking directly at Viktor's pride and masculine ego. Viktor's hands were shaking with rage, his jaw clenched tight. He glared at Anashia as if he were ready to kill anyone in his path.
Alia stood there, listening to it all. She knew exactly what Anashia wanted he was goading Viktor into committing some brutal act of violence, just so he could sit back and enjoy the show. Alia tightened her grip, a cold, sharp smile playing on her lips as she looked at Viktor and said, "What happened, Viktor? Aren't you going to silence your mad dog? Or do you agree with everything he's saying?" Viktor looked at Anashia and let out a strange, cold laugh. His laughter held more terrifying confidence than anger. He brushed Anashia's hand off his shoulder and spoke:
Viktor: "You're still underestimating her, Anashia. She's no longer just a CIA agent. She is a Godmother in her own right. She retired from the CIA long ago. So, stop making cheap jokes about her. Because if she stops showing mercy, even the walls of this palace will be drenched in blood."
Anashia was taken aback by Viktor's sudden gravity. Viktor knew that controlling Alia through force was no longer an option.
Meanwhile, Alia was sitting comfortably in her own room. There was no trace of last night's struggle in her eyes. She leaned back on the sofa, holding her expensive smartphone with a mysterious smile on her lips. She was chatting with the handsome boy (Ivan) from last night.
Alia typed: "Last night could have been even more thrilling if you hadn't been in such a hurry to leave me."
A message from Ivan popped up: "Ma'am, it's impossible to escape your gaze. I am simply waiting for your next command."
Alia locked her phone and stared out the window, exhaling smoke. While Viktor and Anashia were busy arguing about her downstairs, Alia had already built a world of her ownone where she was the queen, and everyone else was just a pawn on her chessboard. As Ivan's message popped up on the screen, Alia's smirk widened. It seemed Ivan could read her mind.
Ivan messaged:
"Ma'am, I can still feel that pull on my neck from last night. I can't stop thinking about the moment you yanked my tie. Can I come back to serve you again? I promise this time I won't be in any hurry to leave."
Alia stared at the message for a few seconds, feeling a sense of satisfaction at his boldness. She began typing on the screen:
Alia: "You made a mistake, Ivan. Once someone loses their chance, the Godmother doesn't usually give a second one. However... if you truly want to redeem yourself, there's a special task I need you to handle for me tonight. Can you do it?"
Ivan's reply came almost instantly:
Ivan: "I'd walk into hell for you, Ma'am. Just give the order."
Alia placed the phone against her chest and stared at the ceiling. While Viktor and Anashia were preoccupied with their power struggles below, Alia was building her own private army from the outside world. Ivan was just the beginning Alia knew exactly how to intoxicate people and turn them into pawns for her ultimate game. Alia moved her fingers rapidly across the phone screen. Her next instruction for Ivan was precise and lethal. She messaged:
Alia: "It's time to have some fun. Call their bank directly. Tell them something that will make Viktor and Anashia lose their minds. You have control over both their accounts now. 'Hack' them or 'freeze' them in such a way that they won't even realize who is playing this game."
Alia knew that Viktor and Anashia's arrogance was rooted in their vast wealth. If their source of power their money was stripped away, they would crumble.
Ivan replied instantly: "Your wish is my command, Ma'am. All their bank accounts are under my control now. I'm calling them right this second and playing a 'game' they will remember for the rest of their lives."
Alia leaned back on the sofa, content. Moments later, Viktor's roar erupted from downstairs. He was shouting into the phone, and Anashia's panicked voice could be heard trembling. Alia knew Ivan had started the show. All of Viktor's transactions were halted, and their accounts were now 'frozen.'
Alia walked over to the window. She stared out at the garden lights of the mansion, a cold smile on her face. In the game of the Godmother, those who dared to insult her were about to learn what it felt like to lose everything in a single night. Downstairs in the drawing room, the tension was palpable. As Viktor and Anashia were locked in their argument, Viktor's high-end smartphone suddenly rang with a sharp, piercing tone. The screen displayed no name—only an 'Unknown Number.'
Annoyed, Viktor answered the call. On the other end, Ivan's deep, confident voice resonated.
Ivan: "Good morning, Mr. Viktor. I hope your day isn't going too badly so far."
Viktor: (Raising his voice) "Who is this? Where do you get the nerve to call me with this nonsense?"
Ivan: (Laughing calmly) "I got the nerve from a very powerful place. For now, try to calm your temper, because within the next sixty seconds, all your credit cards and business accounts are being blocked. You can check for yourself your banking servers are currently in the palm of my hand."
Viktor gasped and signaled Anashia to check the laptop. Anashia's fingers flew across the keys, only to see 'Access Denied' flashing across every single account. Anashia's face turned pale with instant terror.
Ivan continued, "Give my regards to Anashia as well. The password to your joint Swiss account? It was changed just a moment ago. From today, every penny you spend will be accounted for by a 'very special person.'"
The line went dead. Viktor and Anashia stood staring at each other in total shock. Their arrogance and status had vanished in an instant. From the balcony upstairs, Alia looked down with a cryptic smile knowing that Ivan hadn't just made a phone call; he had stripped the very ground from beneath their feet.