Chapter 58 : “Downfall”

*Violet’s POV*

The walls of my empire, once unassailable, were crumbling like a sandcastle at high tide. The realization was a cold blade twisting in my gut, and with it came the bitter taste of desperation. My corrupted networks, a web I had spun with such precision, now ensnared me in their collapse.

"Everything's falling apart," I muttered to myself, pacing the dimly lit room where I'd holed up. The shadows seemed to mock my predicament, whispering of betrayal and downfall.

I tugged at my hair, once a mane to be flaunted, now a tangled mess reflecting my inner turmoil. My mind raced, thoughts sharp as shattered glass. There had to be a way out – one final card to play in this high-stakes game. And then it struck me, a plan as dark as the circles under my eyes. Roanne Mailen.

"Sweet, naive Roanne," I whispered, a serpent's hiss escaping through my clenched teeth. My lips curled into a smile devoid of warmth. She was the key, my bargaining chip, the ace up my sleeve. If I could ta