Cleopatra sat in her office chair, but her mind couldn't focus on the document open in front of her. Something far more important filled her thoughts—Louis Toreto.

Since this morning, he had been acting differently. Distant.


Louis, who usually had no problem locking eyes with her, throwing sarcastic yet playful remarks, or stealing moments to create that delicious tension between them, was now shutting himself off.

And that pissed Cleopatra off.

She wasn't going to let this happen.


She wasn't going to let Louis slip away just like that.

With a swift motion, Cleopatra pressed the intercom button and spoke in a cold voice.


'Peter, call Louis to my office. Now."

Peter, on the other end, immediately understood that this wasn't a request that could be denied.

'Yes, Boss."

A Few Minutes Later… The office door swung open, and Louis stepped inside.

Cleopatra's sharp gaze landed on him, noting how he looked more serious than usual. His stance was rigid, and there was definitely something he was hiding.

That only made her angrier.

Wasting no time, Cleopatra stood up and strode toward him.

'Close the door."

Her tone was firm, unquestionable.

Louis hesitated for a moment before finally shutting the door behind him.

The moment the door clicked shut, Cleopatra moved fast.

She pushed Louis against the wall, placing her hands on either side of his body, trapping him so he had nowhere to escape.

Louis was startled, but he didn't resist.

'What the hell is going on, Toreto?"

Cleopatra's voice was cold and sharp, but there was something else in it—something raw, something wounded.

Louis swallowed hard, trying to avoid her gaze, but Cleopatra wasn't about to let him.

'Answer me."

Louis let out a heavy sigh. 'I don't want any more trouble, Cleo."

Cleopatra narrowed her eyes. 'Trouble? Or are you just scared?"

Louis didn't answer.

Cleopatra stepped even closer, her breath nearly touching his face.

'You can handle any threat that comes your way. But you choose to back down just because someone is threatening you?"

Louis clenched his jaw but remained silent.

'I can take all the risks, Louis," Cleopatra's voice dropped lower, deeper, striking right at his core. 'But what I can't take is you giving up."

Louis shut his eyes for a brief moment, trying to hold himself back. But when he opened them again, Cleopatra was still there, so close, so powerful, so damn dangerous to him.

The tension between them skyrocketed.

Louis couldn't take it anymore.

In one swift motion, he pulled Cleopatra into his arms.

And before she could say anything, his lips crashed onto hers in a deep, scorching kiss.

Cleopatra froze for a second—but she didn't pull away.

Louis's arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, as if he was afraid she would disappear if he let go.

That kiss wasn't just passion, wasn't just desire—it was an answer to all the doubts surrounding them.

Cleopatra kissed him back with the same intensity, her hands sliding into his hair, pulling him deeper into the game.

Louis gripped her waist tighter, feeling the reality of her in his arms, and it was almost enough to drive him insane.

When they finally pulled apart, their breaths were still heavy, their foreheads nearly touching.

Louis stared at Cleopatra intensely, his eyes dark and full of hunger.

'You still sure you want me to stay away?" his voice was hoarse, challenging.

Cleopatra didn't answer.

She didn't need to.

Because the way she was still holding onto him said everything.

________________________________________

The sky outside Cleopatra's penthouse had turned dark, but inside one of the hidden rooms, the glow of multiple computer screens filled the space with a dim blue light.

Cleopatra sat in her chair, her expression icy, eyes locked on the large screen in front of her filled with classified communication data that Peter Moon had just traced.

Beside her, Peter tapped his fingers against his iPad, his face serious. Tonight wasn't just another routine investigation.

'We have a mole inside the office," Peter's voice was heavy, breaking the silence in the room.

Cleopatra tore her gaze from the screen to Peter, her expression sharpening. 'Who?"

Peter sighed, then typed something before a name appeared on the screen.

'I don't know exactly who yet, but someone has been secretly communicating with Theodore. They're using a private channel and frequently sending reports about every move Louis makes."

Cleopatra clenched her fists. If someone was trying to take Louis down, she would flip the game herself.

'We need to find out who it is."

Peter looked at her hesitantly. "Cleopatra, this is dangerous. Theodore has a lot of connections, maybe even in the underground world. If you investigate this too openly—"

"I don't care," Cleopatra cut him off. "If someone is targeting Louis, I'll make them regret it."

Peter let out a long sigh. He knew Cleopatra wouldn't change her mind.

"Then we need more intel. I have contacts in the underground who might get us answers faster."

Cleopatra stared at Peter for a moment, then picked up her phone and stood up.

"I'm meeting someone tonight."

Peter immediately tensed. "Alone? Cleo, that's insane."

Cleopatra just smirked. "I know how to play this game, Peter. I'll be fine."

But Peter wasn't convinced.

Cleopatra stepped out of her car with confidence, even though she knew this place wasn't exactly safe.

An old warehouse on the outskirts of town—the kind of place where people like her could get information that wasn't available anywhere else.

Inside the warehouse, a large man with sharp eyes grinned when he saw her walk in.

"Cleo, it's been a long time," the man said, lounging in his chair with a relaxed yet calculating demeanor.

"I need information," Cleopatra said bluntly.

The man chuckled. "Of course, you do. I always enjoy seeing you in fight mode like this."

Cleopatra didn't smile. "Who's paying Theodore to go after Louis?"

The man raised an eyebrow, looking slightly surprised.

"You really care about that guy, huh?"

Cleopatra tapped her fingers on the table in a barely audible rhythm.

"Answer me, or I'll make sure your shady business in this city crumbles within a week."

The man let out a small laugh, but he knew Cleopatra wasn't bluffing.

"Alright, alright. I don't know who's behind it, but I can tell you one thing—someone inside your company is feeding information about Louis."

Cleopatra took a deep breath.

They were getting closer to the truth.

But before she could ask anything else, the sound of an engine roaring outside caught her attention.

Cleopatra instantly knew something was wrong.

As she stepped out of the warehouse, a black car sped toward her at full speed!

Her eyes widened. Shit!

In a split second, everything moved in slow motion.

But before she could react, a strong hand yanked her back roughly.

"CLEO!"

Bang!

Cleopatra tumbled onto the pavement, her body pressing against something warm—Louis.

The black car zoomed past them, barely missing her, only because Louis had pulled her out of the way just in time.

Their breaths were heavy.

Cleopatra turned, locking eyes with Louis, who was still on top of her, his face filled with rage.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"

Louis was just as furious. "I SHOULD BE ASKING YOU THAT!"

They stared at each other, their chests rising and falling rapidly from the adrenaline rush.

Cleopatra bit her lip.

Louis looked at her intensely, and in one brief moment, their anger shifted into something far more complicated.

Louis raised his hand, tucking a few strands of Cleopatra's messy hair behind her ear from the chaos.

"Cleo, you're insane. Why are you risking your life like this?"

Cleopatra swallowed hard.

For the first time, she saw something different in Louis's eyes.

Not just anger.

Not just worry.

But fear of losing her.

Cleopatra leaned in slightly, their voices dropping to a whisper.

"I have to know who's threatening you, Louis."

Louis shook his head in frustration, but he didn't pull away.

"I don't care about the threats. I care about you."

Cleopatra held her breath.

Louis moved even closer, until there was barely any space between them.

The cold night no longer mattered with their bodies this close.

Cleopatra could smell Louis's familiar scent, making it even harder to think straight.

Louis glanced at her lips for a second, then back to her eyes.

"Cleo, I can't lose—"

But before he could finish, a loud car horn startled them, snapping them back to reality.

Louis quickly got up, pulling Cleopatra up with him.

"Let's go home," he said, his voice softer but filled with authority.

Cleopatra stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding.

Tonight, they were safe.

But this was just the beginning.

Whoever was trying to attack them, Cleopatra swore she wouldn't sit back anymore.

—

The next morning, Cleopatra sat behind her desk, her expression unreadable. Since last night, her mind had been filled with the incident that had nearly cost her life.

But beyond that, something else bothered her even more.

Louis.

He had saved her—again. And in that split-second moment, she had felt something bigger than just tension or the usual game they played.

She didn't like this.

She didn't like how her feelings were starting to get too involved.

Cleopatra tried to distract herself by opening her laptop, but before she could even read a single line of an email, her phone buzzed with nonstop notifications.

Her eyebrows knitted together.

There were hundreds of alerts from social media and news portals.

Cleopatra grabbed her phone, quickly scrolling through the screen—and the world seemed to stop spinning as she read the headline.

"Scandal of Dimitri Group's Financial Consultant! Louis Toreto Caught on Camera Entering a Hotel with a Mysterious Woman."

Cleopatra froze.

Her fingers tightened around her phone, her eyes darting over the photos flooding the media.

First photo: Louis walking into a luxury hotel with a long-haired woman in a red dress.

Second photo: The woman touching Louis's chest flirtatiously in front of the elevator.

Third photo: Louis leaving the hotel alone a few hours later.

Cleopatra's heart pounded.

No.

This couldn't be real.

Her hands clenched into fists, her knuckles turning white.

"Who is this woman?" she muttered, her voice low and tense.

A few employees passing by outside her office whispered to each other, but Cleopatra didn't care.

She just wanted answers.

When her office door opened, Louis walked in, looking exhausted, still dressed in his crisp suit. But the moment he saw Cleopatra and the phone in her hand, he knew something was wrong.

Cleopatra's sharp gaze locked onto him.

And in one swift motion, she threw her phone onto the desk in front of Louis with a loud thud, the sound echoing through the room.

"Care to explain this, Toreto?"

Louis was caught off guard. He glanced at Cleopatra's phone screen, and his face instantly paled.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath.

Cleopatra crossed her arms, her eyes burning with anger. "You have a few seconds to start talking before I make sure you lose your job."

Louis swallowed hard, trying to steady his breathing. He didn't do this!

But before he could get a single word out, Cleopatra was already grabbing her coat.

"I've had enough."

Louis tensed. "Wait, Cleo—this isn't what you think!"

Cleopatra hesitated for a brief second but didn't turn around.

"I'm not thinking anything, Louis," her voice was low but cut deep. "Because I don't care."

Then she walked out of the room, her jaw clenched, leaving Louis standing there, frozen with growing confusion and fear swelling in his chest.

Elsewhere – Theodore Enjoys the Game

In a lavish office with glass walls overlooking the city, Theodore William Blake sat comfortably in his chair, swirling his brandy glass with a victorious smirk.

In front of him, a large screen displayed the news of Louis's scandal going viral online.

Meanwhile, in the corner of the room, Noah stood with his arms crossed, his expression sharp but without amusement.

"Just as I expected," Theodore commented lazily. "Cleopatra won't forgive a man who betrays her."

Noah scoffed. "I don't like this, Theodore."

Theodore raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "What don't you like? Isn't this part of your plan to get Cleopatra back?"

Noah narrowed his eyes but didn't respond.

Theodore chuckled, lifting his brandy glass.

"Congratulations, Noah," he said mockingly. "We just made Louis Toreto look like a cheating bastard in Cleopatra's eyes."

Noah remained silent, but deep inside, he knew this was just the beginning.

And if Louis couldn't restore Cleopatra's trust, he would never win her back.

Cleopatra sat in the back seat of her car, eyes closed, her breathing unsteady.

Her fingers gripped her skirt tightly, trying to contain her emotions.

She didn't want to believe the news so easily.

But…

Why did this hurt so much?

Cleopatra opened her eyes, glancing at her phone vibrating again with a new message from Louis.

Louis: "Cleo, please listen to me. I can explain everything. I swear, I didn't do this. Please don't make a decision before you hear me out."

Cleopatra bit her lip.

But before she could reply, another notification popped up.

Noah: "I know you must be disappointed. I'm at our usual restaurant if you need someone to talk to."

Cleopatra stared at her phone screen.

On one side, Louis was desperate to explain.

On the other, Noah was waiting with his sly smile, ready to plant more doubt in her mind.

And for the first time since she had known Louis, Cleopatra truly felt uncertain.

Soft jazz music filled the corners of La Nuit Élégante, one of the city's most exclusive bars frequented by businessmen and socialites. Dim lighting set an intimate atmosphere, while the shimmer of wine glasses on the bar's shelves added to its elegance.

In one of the VIP booths, Cleopatra sat alone, her fingers circling the rim of a nearly empty cocktail glass.

Usually, she wouldn't indulge in drinks like this.

But tonight was different.

Tonight, she was consumed by questions she was too afraid to answer.

Her eyes stared blankly at the liquid in her glass, her mind looping through the images that flooded social media this morning—pictures of Louis with a mysterious woman at a hotel.

Every time she tried to push the thoughts away, Louis's face resurfaced—alongside her.

Was it real?

Or… was this just part of Theodore's dirty game?

Cleopatra exhaled softly, taking another sip, trying to drown out the unease clawing at her chest.

And then—

A man walked in.

Not just any man.

Louis Toreto.

Louis strode into the bar with steady steps, his eyes locking onto Cleopatra, sitting alone in the corner.

His gaze narrowed as he took in her blank expression—something he rarely ever saw on her face.

He knew he had to explain. He knew Cleopatra wouldn't believe him easily.

But he couldn't let this drag on.

With determined steps, Louis approached her.

Cleopatra saw him, but instead of looking shocked or furious, she let out a small, cold laugh.

"You here to defend yourself, Toreto?"

Louis didn't answer right away.

Instead of answering, he pulled out the chair beside Cleopatra and sat down, his eyes never leaving her.

'I came to tell you the truth."

Cleopatra scoffed and took another sip of her drink.

'The truth?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 'The truth like the one in those pictures?"

Louis let out a long sigh.

'Cleo, it was a setup. I never touched that woman. I didn't even know who she was until I saw the pictures today."

Cleopatra tilted her head, her gaze stripping Louis down, searching for any hint of a lie.

'A setup? Really?"

Louis met her eyes. 'I swear, Cleo. I didn't do it."

Cleopatra smirked, then suddenly grabbed his tie, yanking him closer until their faces were mere inches apart.

Louis froze.

Cleopatra leaned into his ear, her voice almost a seductive whisper.

'Then prove that you're only mine, Louis."

Louis's breath hitched.

This game… Cleopatra was baiting him.

Her hand was still gripping his tie, her lips dangerously close to his skin.

He was so close to losing.

So close to pulling Cleopatra into a kiss that would erase every doubt between them.

But—

Someone arrived.

And everything changed.

'Cleo, I know you're upset. But I'm always here for you."

The voice came from behind them.

Louis immediately tensed.

Cleopatra pulled back, but this time, she wasn't laughing.

Noah Walter stepped forward with his signature smirk, sliding into the seat between them as if he had every right to be there.

Louis clenched his jaw, his fists tightening at his sides.

'What the hell are you doing here, Walter?" His voice was ice-cold, filled with warning.

Noah leaned back in his chair casually, his eyes shifting to Cleopatra with a falsely sympathetic look.

'I just wanted to make sure Cleo was okay."

Cleopatra didn't react immediately.

Her gaze flicked between Noah and Louis, and for the first time, Louis saw something that made his chest tighten.

Doubt.

Cleopatra was actually starting to doubt him.

And that scared him more than anything Theodore or Noah could ever do to him.

'You know, Cleo…" Noah spoke again, 'I saw this coming. A guy like Louis would never fit into your world."

Louis shot him a sharp glare. 'Cut the crap, Noah."

Cleopatra remained silent.

Noah smirked, then reached for Cleopatra's hand with a gentle motion.

Louis shot up from his seat, his expression dark.

'Let go of her hand."

Noah raised an eyebrow. 'Relax, Toreto. You've already disappointed her enough today. I'm just offering her the comfort she deserves."

Louis gritted his teeth. He wanted nothing more than to smash Noah's face in, but he knew that would only push Cleopatra further away.

Instead, he looked at her, searching for an answer in her expression.

'Cleo, I won't force you to believe me. But I won't let someone like Noah take advantage of this moment to manipulate you."

Cleopatra finally met his eyes, and for a brief second, Louis saw something—a deep internal battle raging inside her.

Would she trust him?

Or was she really considering Noah's words?

That night, in the middle of a high-end bar filled with lies and deception, Louis felt something he had never felt before—

The fear that he might actually lose Cleopatra.

________________________________________

Thunder rumbled in the sky, followed by a downpour that soaked the city streets. Raindrops pounded against the roof, blending with the howling wind.

Outside Cleopatra's luxurious home, Louis stood drenched, his jaw clenched as he knocked hard on the door.

It had been over five minutes, but there was no answer.

But Louis wasn't leaving tonight.

Not after what happened at the bar. Not after seeing Cleopatra start to doubt him.

He had to talk to her. Now.

Without a second thought, Louis raised his hand again, ready to knock louder, but before he could—

The door opened.

And there she was, standing in the doorway, wearing a dark satin nightgown, her hair still flawlessly draped over her shoulders despite the exhaustion in her face.

Her eyes were cold, her lips slightly pursed, but Louis could see the internal struggle hidden behind them.

They stood there, staring at each other.

Silence.

Only the sound of the rain accompanied them.

Then, Cleopatra finally spoke.

'What are you doing here, Louis?" her voice was low, almost drowned out by the rain.

Louis stared at her, his body still soaking wet, but he didn't care.

'I don't care about the threats, Cleo. I only care about you."

Cleopatra let out a small laugh—a laugh filled with pain and exhaustion.

She leaned against the doorframe, gazing at Louis with an unreadable expression.

'You always know how to say the right words, Toreto."

Louis's gaze darkened, his voice dropping lower. 'I'm not trying to charm you, Cleo."

Cleopatra took a deep breath, lowering her head for a moment before looking back at him.

'Louis…" she hesitated as if unsure whether to continue. 'I can't keep fighting the world to be with you when I don't even know if I can trust you."

Louis froze.

Those words cut deeper than he expected.

He knew the scandal had shaken her. He knew that Theodore and Noah were working against him.

But he never thought Cleopatra would actually consider walking away from him.

'So you really think I betrayed you?" his voice was almost a whisper.

Cleopatra didn't answer immediately.

She closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall, but before she could speak again—

Louis grabbed her shoulders firmly.

He forced her to look at him, his voice filled with conviction.

'Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't want me by your side."

Cleopatra froze.

Her heart pounded.

Her eyes met Louis's gaze—desperate, intense, filled with a love he couldn't hide.

Cleopatra parted her lips, but no words came out.

Because she couldn't say it.

Because it would be the biggest lie of her life.

Louis saw the hesitation in her, saw how she was holding back her emotions, and that was all he needed to make his next move.

Without giving her a chance to step away—

Louis pulled Cleopatra into his arms and kissed her.

Deep.

Desperate.

Filled with longing.

Cleopatra gasped, her eyes widening as she felt the intensity of Louis's kiss, so demanding, so full of need, as if this was his last chance to prove himself to her.

Her hands instinctively clutched his soaked jacket, her fingers gripping tightly, but she didn't resist.

She kissed him back.

Because no matter how hard she tried to deny it—Louis still owned her heart.

The rain poured harder.

They didn't care.

Until finally, Louis pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers.

'Please, Cleo. Don't let them win."

Cleopatra closed her eyes, her breathing still shaky.

She wanted to trust him. She wanted to choose Louis.

But she was scared.

Scared that it would all end in an even greater heartbreak.

But before she could give him an answer—

A car's headlights flashed from across the street.

Cleopatra and Louis turned at the same time.

There, inside a black car parked across her house, someone was watching them with cold, calculating eyes.

Someone who had been waiting for the right moment to strike.

Louis narrowed his eyes, realizing this wasn't a coincidence.

And that night, he knew the game wasn't over.

They were only being pulled deeper into it.