That morning, Cleopatra sat behind her office desk, her fingers tapping against the glass surface in a slow but tense rhythm. Her mind was still consumed by last night—her kiss with Louis in the rain. It wasn't just any kiss. It was an answer to all the questions haunting her about that man.

But could Louis really be trusted?


Cleopatra wasn't the kind of woman who wavered easily just because of one emotional moment. Not after everything she had been through. She had been betrayed too many times—by the world, by her family, by people who wanted her downfall.

And now, she had to be sure of one thing. If Louis was given the chance to betray her, would he take it?

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Peter walked in, an iPad in hand, his expression serious.


"Boss, I found something," he said, handing her the iPad.

Cleopatra took it, her eyes scanning the information on the screen.


Anonymous transaction records. Secret communications between Theodore and a journalist. The real identity of the woman in the scandal.

Cleopatra narrowed her eyes. "So it really was a setup?"

Peter nodded. "That woman was just a pawn. Theodore and Noah orchestrated everything."

Cleopatra let out a long breath, then looked up, her expression sharpening.

"Then let's see if Louis is truly loyal."

That night, Cleopatra set her plan in motion with absolute precision.

She sent an anonymous message to Louis, making it seem like it was from a business associate who wanted to meet him at an exclusive lounge. Meanwhile, she arranged for the woman from the fake scandal to be there as well.

Not only that, but Peter had installed hidden CCTV cameras throughout the lounge. Cleopatra wanted to see how Louis would react when faced with the same temptation from his scandal.

If he was truly loyal to her, he wouldn't fall for the trap.

But if he slipped…

Cleopatra took a sip of her wine, seated in front of a monitor displaying a live feed from the lounge where Louis was waiting.

Her sharp eyes tracked his every move.

In the dimly lit, luxurious lounge, Louis sat on a leather sofa, his expression slightly puzzled. He had received a message from someone claiming to be Cleopatra's business associate, but so far, the person hadn't shown up.

Before he could think too much about it, the woman arrived.

The woman from the scandal photos.

She wore a red dress that hugged her curves perfectly, her long hair cascading down her shoulders, lips curved into a knowing smile.

"Louis Toreto," she said smoothly as she sat beside him.

Louis narrowed his eyes, his body immediately tensing.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was sharp, full of suspicion.

The woman's smile grew sweeter, more devious. "We've never spoken in person, have we? Such a shame. I thought we'd make great friends."

Louis shifted slightly away, his demeanor completely different from what the scandal photos had implied.

Behind the CCTV screen, Cleopatra watched everything.

Her fingers tapped lightly on the table, her expression remaining cold and calculating.

The woman moved closer, placing a hand on Louis's arm.

"You seem tense. Relax."

Louis immediately pulled his arm away, his gaze turning icy.

"I don't know what your game is, but I'm not interested."

Cleopatra's eyes narrowed as she watched from behind the screen.

Interesting.

The woman didn't give up. She leaned in closer, her hand reaching toward Louis's chest.

But before she could touch him, Louis abruptly stood up.

"I'm not interested," he repeated firmly. "Send my regards to Theodore. I know this is a trap."

Cleopatra stiffened in her seat.

Louis knew?

Louis shot the woman a sharp look, then took one last sip of his wine before placing the glass on the table.

'If you think I'm going to fall for this game, you're dead wrong."

He turned and walked out of the lounge.

Behind the screen, Cleopatra remained silent.

Peter, standing behind her with his arms crossed, held back a small smile.

'Looks like he passed the test, Boss."

Cleopatra stayed quiet for a few more seconds before a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on her lips.

Louis had proven himself.

But now, the real question was—

Was Cleopatra ready to accept the fact that this man truly loved her?

________________________________________

Rain drizzled steadily, soaking the quiet city streets. The dark sky was occasionally illuminated by flashes of lightning, casting eerie shadows against the massive glass windows of Cleopatra's penthouse.

Outside, a man stood with a clenched jaw, his body drenched from the downpour.

Louis Toreto.

He had been standing there for over an hour, but the door had yet to open.

Cleopatra hadn't answered his calls, hadn't replied to his messages.

But Louis wasn't going to give up.

Not tonight.

He pulled an envelope from his jacket, filled with the evidence he had gathered over the past few days. If this was the only way to make Cleopatra believe him, then he would do it—no matter what it took.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door opened.

Cleopatra stood in the doorway, draped in a dark red satin slip that clung to her curves perfectly, her hair slightly damp from a recent shower.

Her gaze was ice-cold.

'What are you doing here, Louis?" Her voice was low, but there was a warning laced in it.

Louis didn't answer right away. He simply looked at her, his deep brown eyes holding something far more powerful than mere explanations.

Then, he lifted the envelope in his hand. 'I have proof."

Cleopatra crossed her arms over her chest, but she remained standing in the doorway, not inviting him in.

'I'm not interested in words anymore, Toreto."

Louis exhaled sharply, then lifted his chin slightly. 'Then let me show you actions."

Silence.

Their eyes met in an unspoken battle only they understood.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Cleopatra stepped aside, opening the door wider for him to enter.

________________________________________

Inside the warm penthouse, the stark contrast from the rain outside sent a shiver through Louis's body. Cleopatra walked over to her small bar, pouring herself a glass of red wine without a word.

Louis placed the envelope on the glass coffee table in the living room. 'Look at this."

Cleopatra eyed the envelope with an unreadable expression. 'What is it?"

'Everything proving my innocence," Louis said, his voice deep and steady.

Cleopatra took a slow sip of her wine before reclining on the sofa, her gaze still sharp. 'Tell me, Louis. Why should I believe this?"

Louis sighed before sitting across from her. 'Because I investigated it myself."

He pulled a few photos from the envelope and handed them to her.

Financial transactions linked to Theodore. Recordings of Noah's conversations with a journalist. Digital traces proving that the hotel scandal was a setup.

Cleopatra stared at the evidence with a blank expression. She had suspected foul play all along, but seeing the proof in her hands… that was something else.

Louis leaned forward, his voice lower but unwavering. 'I won't let them win, Cleo."

Cleopatra looked at him in silence.

She could see the truth in his eyes.

But…

Was she truly ready to trust again?

She placed the photos back on the table, then slowly stood up, stepping closer to Louis with measured steps.

'I'm tired of this game." Her voice was almost a whisper, but it carried a warning.

Louis stood too, just inches away from her, their breaths mingling.

'Then stop fighting what you feel," he murmured.

Cleopatra held his gaze, but this time, it wasn't with anger—it was something far more dangerous.

Temptation.

She lifted a hand, her fingers trailing over Louis's rain-soaked shirt, feeling the cold fabric against his warm skin.

'Show me, Louis," she whispered. 'That I'm the only woman you want."

Louis swallowed hard. Cleopatra was testing him again.

But this time, he wasn't going to lose.

In a swift motion, he pulled her into a deep, searing kiss.

Cleopatra stiffened for a split second but didn't resist. Instead, she kissed him back with just as much intensity, her hands sliding up to his neck, pulling him closer.

This kiss wasn't just passion—it was a statement.

That Louis only wanted Cleopatra.

That Cleopatra was finally letting her guard down.

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

'Still doubting me, Cleo?" Louis's voice was hoarse, full of challenge.

Cleopatra smirked slightly, but something in her eyes had changed.

Maybe, for the first time—she was ready to believe again.

________________________________________

In a dimly lit room, illuminated only by the glow of a desk lamp, Theodore William Blake sat in his chair, a lit cigar in hand. The smoke curled around him, casting ghostly shadows on his calculating face.

A broad-shouldered man stood before him, waiting for instructions.

Theodore exhaled a slow stream of smoke before speaking. 'I want Cleopatra and Louis's business project to collapse within the next week."

The man nodded. 'We've already infiltrated their team. Just one more step and everything will fall apart."

Theodore smirked. 'Good. If Cleopatra loses her business, she'll lose her balance."

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. 'And when that happens, she'll be much easier to control."

Theodore picked up a glass of brandy from his desk and took a slow sip. 'I want Cleopatra on her knees, begging me to save her. I want to see her face when she realizes she can't win."

The man remained silent, waiting for further orders.

Theodore glanced to the side at a monitor displaying CCTV footage of Cleopatra and Louis in her penthouse the night before.

He tapped his finger on the screen, right over Louis Toreto's face.

'Make sure that man knows—I'm always one step ahead of him."

The man nodded. 'Everything is in place, sir. We're just waiting for the right moment."

Theodore's cold smile widened. 'The right moment? That's when Cleopatra feels safest. Then we'll destroy everything."

________________________________________

Elsewhere, in the main office of Dimitri Group, Cleopatra sat behind her desk, reading the latest financial reports.

Across from her, Louis stood with his arms crossed, his expression serious.

'I know you're still thinking about everything that happened," Louis finally spoke, his voice softer than usual. 'I know you still have doubts."

Cleopatra closed the document in her hands and looked at him sharply. 'I don't doubt my feelings for you, Louis. But I can't ignore the fact that we're surrounded by enemies."

Louis nodded slowly. 'And that's exactly why I'm staying by your side."

Cleopatra let out a quiet sigh, rubbing her temple. 'Louis, I don't want you getting hurt because of this. Theodore isn't someone who will back down just because we choose to be together."

Louis stepped closer, placing his hands on her desk, looking straight into her eyes. 'I know that. But I'd rather fight with you than watch you fight alone."

Cleopatra fell silent.

She wanted to trust him, to fully let down her guard with Louis. But she knew the world they were up against wasn't one that everyone could understand.

'What if this destroys us?" she finally whispered.

Louis smirked and leaned in even closer. 'Then we'll fall together and rise again together."

Cleopatra stared at him for a long moment before letting out a small chuckle. 'You really are impossible to get rid of, aren't you?"

Louis raised an eyebrow. 'And you're still questioning that?"

Cleopatra bit her lip, trying to hold back a smile. 'Alright, Toreto. I won't try to push you away anymore."

Louis grinned, then without warning, leaned in even closer, his breath just inches from her face.

'Then I want something as a guarantee."

Cleopatra arched an eyebrow, but before she could respond, Louis had already pulled her into a brief yet deep kiss.

No more hesitation.

No more distance between them.

They were in this war together.

________________________________________

As Cleopatra and Louis shared their moment, someone outside the building raised a phone to their ear.

'They're getting closer, sir."

Somewhere else, Theodore smiled in satisfaction.

'Good. Destroy their project tomorrow."

________________________________________

Dim lighting cast shadows across Cleopatra's secret operations room, a space known only to a select few. The dark-tinted glass walls reflected the glow of computer screens displaying financial graphs, transaction records, and a web of connections between Theodore and Noah.

At the center of the room, Cleopatra sat with a cold, calculating expression, while Peter and Louis stood in front of her, awaiting instructions.

Cleopatra tapped her fingers on the glass table, her sharp gaze fixed on the screen. 'This time, I'm the one controlling the game."

Peter raised an eyebrow, impressed but also slightly concerned. 'Are you really ready to take down Theodore?"

Cleopatra smirked, but there was no warmth in it. 'I don't just want to take him down. I want to destroy him."

Louis leaned against the table, his gaze locked onto hers. 'How are you going to do it?"

Cleopatra activated another screen, displaying the financial records they had stolen from Theodore's secret network.

'We know Theodore has been using illegal funds to expand his business," Cleopatra began, her voice sharp with strategy. 'But what's more interesting is that he's been funneling some of that money into untraceable accounts. That's his weak spot."

Peter nodded in agreement. 'If we expose his illegal transactions, he won't just lose investor support—he could end up in prison."

Louis looked at Cleopatra with admiration.

This woman wasn't just strong—she was brilliant. She wasn't just a player in this game—she was the one pulling the strings.

'What about Noah?" Louis finally asked.

Cleopatra held his gaze before smirking. 'Noah has been lurking in the shadows for too long. I'll drag him into the light and make him choose—stand with Theodore or lose everything."

Louis nodded, then crossed his arms. 'What's your plan?"

Cleopatra took a deep breath before laying it out.

________________________________________

Cleopatra and her team would spread false information that she wanted to make peace with Theodore. If Theodore believed she was surrendering, he would drop his guard and reveal his final move.

Cleopatra would arrange a secret meeting with Noah, offering him a deal to betray Theodore. If he agreed, Theodore would lose a key ally. If he refused, Cleopatra would set him up with undeniable proof of his involvement in the illegal transactions.

Peter would collaborate with the media to release evidence of Theodore's crimes at the exact moment he thought he had won.

________________________________________

Louis looked at Cleopatra with newfound respect, then smirked. 'You really are unstoppable."

Cleopatra shrugged casually, but her eyes remained cold. 'I've let too many people play with my life. Now, it's my turn."

Peter chuckled lightly, but before they could continue finalizing their plan, the penthouse doorbell rang.

Cleopatra walked toward the door cautiously, Louis right behind her, ready in case anything happened.

When she opened the door, no one was there.

But in front of her lay a mysterious package.

Cleopatra eyed it carefully before picking it up.

Peter stepped closer, frowning. 'Should we check it first?"

Cleopatra ignored the warning and opened the package right on the living room table.

Inside was a single black envelope with golden lettering on the front.

'The game isn't over. Look outside."

Louis immediately rushed to the penthouse's large window, and when he looked down, a black car was parked across the street.

Inside, someone sat watching them directly.

Theodore.

Cleopatra clenched her jaw, then smirked coldly.

"Perfect."

Louis turned to her, watching her warily. "What do you mean?"

Cleopatra glanced at the envelope in her hands before lifting her chin with confidence. "It means he knows we're fighting back. And that means… we're getting closer to taking him down."

Louis studied her for a long moment before finally smirking. "I never get tired of watching you play this game, Cleo."

Cleopatra let out a soft chuckle, then stepped closer to Louis, gripping the collar of his suit and pulling him in just a little.

"Then get ready for an even bigger show, Toreto."

That night, war had been declared.

And this time, Cleopatra wasn't backing down.

________________________________________

The next morning, Dimitri Group's office felt quieter than usual. The soft clicking of keyboards and hushed conversations of employees filled the air, but to Cleopatra, it all faded into the background.

She sat behind her massive glass desk, staring blankly at her laptop screen. The latest financial report was open in front of her, but none of the numbers made sense.

Her mind was still fixated on Theodore's threat.

They were getting closer to taking him down, but that also meant Louis was in more danger than ever.

Could she really allow him to stay by her side?

A knock at the door snapped Cleopatra out of her thoughts. Louis entered without waiting for a response, his expression more serious than usual.

He shut the door slowly, then leaned against the frame, his gaze unwavering.

'We need to talk."

Cleopatra looked up at him, holding his gaze for a long moment before finally taking a deep breath. "I know."

Louis stepped forward, placing both hands on her desk, looking straight into her eyes.

'I know what you're thinking, Cleo."

Cleopatra let out a small, humorless laugh. "Oh yeah? Then tell me, what am I thinking?"

Louis didn't hesitate.

'You want to tell me to leave."

Cleopatra froze.

She couldn't deny it.

Louis clenched his jaw, then finally spoke again. "I won't lie. I saw this coming."

Cleopatra leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes briefly before responding.

"Louis, this isn't about me not wanting to be with you."

'Then what is it?" Louis's voice was sharper this time.

Cleopatra held his gaze. "It's about me not being able to let you be in danger because of me."

Louis let out a dry chuckle, but there was anger in it.

"So you think I'd be safer without you?"

Cleopatra didn't answer.

Louis shook his head, then straightened. "Listen, Cleopatra. I've seen how you've fought this battle alone for so long. And I'm not going to let that happen again."

Cleopatra glanced out the window. "I can't risk losing you."

Louis clenched his jaw before speaking again, his voice quieter, but deeper.

'If you want me to leave for your safety, I'll go."

Cleopatra stiffened.

Louis took a deep breath, then added, "But I want you to know one thing—I have never loved anyone but you, Cleo."

Cleopatra's heart pounded.

She looked at Louis, trying to read his expression. But all she found was an unshakable certainty.

He would really leave… if she asked him to.

But could she let him go?

________________________________________

The tension in the room thickened.

Louis watched Cleopatra, waiting for her answer.

Cleopatra closed her eyes, trying to calm her thoughts.

But in the silence, there was only one voice she could hear—

Her own heart.

Finally, Cleopatra rose from her chair, walking around the desk until she was standing directly in front of Louis.

Their eyes met.

Then, without warning—Cleopatra grabbed Louis's tie and pulled him into a kiss that was filled with undeniable intensity.

Louis was caught off guard for a moment, but then he deepened the kiss, stronger, deeper than any they had shared before.

No more doubts.

No more barriers between them.

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

Cleopatra looked at Louis with eyes softer than before.

'I don't want you to go, Louis."

Louis gave a small smile, his eyes full of emotion. "Finally, you admit it."

Cleopatra let out a soft laugh, but this time, there was something more behind it.

Relief.

They would fight this battle together.

Not as two people trying to protect each other.

But as two hearts bound far deeper than they had ever realized.

________________________________________

Outside Dimitri Group's office, a black car idled, its engine still running.

From inside, someone watched them with sharp eyes, a sly smile playing on their lips.

"The game isn't over," a cold voice muttered.

And with that, a new chapter in this war had begun.