Chapter 49

Ravyn did not come here planning to pay for anything. If anything, his first instinct had been to outsource the mess.

He could easily call Nova Ghost, give him a discreet contract, have the video scrubbed from every hidden corner of the internet before sunrise.

Nova Ghost never failed, never asked unnecessary questions, and never left fingerprints behind. But this wasn’t just a digital problem, it involved the pack.

And if Nova Ghost really was human, then he had no business touching pack affairs, no matter how capable or expensive he was.

Still, Ravyn had been willing to throw a few million at the situation if it meant restoring Daisy’s sanity and putting this nightmare to rest. Money had never been an issue for him.

He owned half the city’s veins and arteries, and ash flowed through his accounts like water. Even with his stocks plummeting, he was still worth billions, and he knew without a doubt that very soon, things would stabilize again.

But Seraphine, as usual, had other plans. She leaned back in her chair with slow, deliberate grace, a faint smile playing on her lips, the kind that never reached her eyes.

Corvine mirrored her movement, folding himself into his seat with calm indifference, his posture relaxed but alert.

Seraphine’s gaze swept across both men, lingering on Ravyn for a heartbeat longer before she finally spoke. “Like I said,” she began evenly, her voice smooth but dangerous, “you have to pay for both the uploading and the removal p>

She tilted her head slightly, studying Ravyn like he was a financial report instead of her ex-husband.

“And considering your current financial standing, a billion for the upload and another billion for the takedown really isn’t that much p>

The air in the room changed instantly, Ravyn’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening as his warmth evaporated, replaced by pure, glacial fury. “You are fucking crazy p>

Seraphine nodded once, not refusing the insult because there was more coming.

“I am,” she agreed without hesitation. “But if I don’t get the money within twenty-four hours, your business circle all over Manhattan will have it too, and by then?” Her lips curved slowly. “The price triples p>

She tapped the table lightly with one finger. “Tick. Tock. Tick tock p>

The mocking rhythm sank into Ravyn and Voren’s bones, setting their nerves on fire. Ravyn leaned forward, rage flickering behind his eyes.

“Sera, when did you become this shameless, ruthless, and a money-hungry bitch p>

The insult didn’t land, not even grazing her. If anything, Seraphine smiled again, slow and cold, the kind of smile that came from someone who had already buried her heart.

“Since I found out what you did to my child.” The humor drained from her face in an instant. “For making me raise your bastard child as mine p>

Her blue eyes darkened, turning sharp and hollow at the same time, like a winter ocean right before a storm. “Trust me, brother,” she said quietly. “Not only you, but Daisy too, and everything you hold dear p>

Her voice dropped lower. “All of you will pay including Bryan.” He did not have to touch Bryan, but she knew they would not be able to find a cure and whatever happens then would never be her fault.

She stood up then, pushing back her chair with controlled force, and leaned forward across the table until Ravyn could see his reflection in her eyes. “And oh,” she added softly, “you’ll regret ever making that decision p>

Ravyn let out a short, incredulous laugh, completely devoid of remorse. “Yes, I gave the order for your useless daughter to be killed,” he said casually, like he was discussing a failed business deal. “But don’t you want to know who actually did it p>

He thought he was clever, thought he could wedge doubt between Seraphine and Corvine, plant a seed of betrayal, but Corvine ruined it immediately.

“I already told her,” Corvine said calmly, “that I was the one who carried it out. On your order p>

Ravyn raised a brow, staring at them like they had both lost their minds. “The man who killed your daughter is sitting right in front of you,” he said slowly. “And you’re punishing me for it p>

Seraphine didn’t answer with words. She picked up her glass of wine and threw the entire contents straight into Ravyn’s face.

The red liquid splashed across his cheeks and eyes, dripping down his jaw and soaking into his collar.

Ravyn gasped in shock, jerking back, humiliation burning through him. Before he could react, Seraphine spoke. “That,” she said flatly, “is for calling my daughter useless p>

Her anger finally surfaced, rolling off her in heavy waves. “Corvine was your beta,” she continued, her voice rising. “He had no right to refuse your order. That part, I understand p>

She deliberately left out the truth, left out the fact that Corvine had saved the child.

She straightened, already done with the conversation. “Since there’s nothing else to discuss, I’ll give you just twenty-four hours p>

She paused, as if remembering something important. “Oh, and Daisy sent me that video herself,” Seraphine added coolly. “Whatever is good enough for my eyes is good enough for public consumption p>

Her gaze sharpened. “Tell her to stay away from me, because everything she sends to me from now on will go viral p>

Then she turned toward Voren. “And you,” she said, her tone slicing. “I’m tired of waiting. If you don’t pay within the time given, the price doubles p>

With that, she walked out, and never looked back. The door closed behind her, leaving Ravyn and Voren standing there in stunned silence.

“Sera has really changed,” Ravyn murmured after a moment, Voren exhaled sharply, anger pulsing through him.

“You shouldn’t have killed her child,” Voren snapped. “Your own blood. Now I’m about to waste money because of you p>

Ravyn sensed the fury in his voice, but instead of arguing, his mind was already racing, searching for another angle, another way out, and finally settling on one. “There is another way,” Ravyn said quietly.