Aurora walked as if unaware of what had just happened inside moments ago. She moved forward as though oblivious to everything, her hand tightly held by Hector, who pulled her along as if she were his long-lost lover—something precious, something he deeply cherished. Yet Aurora knew well how to play the fool, pretending not to grasp what was happening. It was a silent message to the Al Batris family, who stood there in silence, watching Hector act as though he had won.

But who was the real fool here?

In an instant, Aurora vanished, leaving whispers behind. "Is it true?" someone murmured. "Is she really his fiancée?" The room buzzed with curiosity. What was their relationship? Why would there even be one?

Baron, meanwhile, seethed with rage at Hector’s stunt as he methodically dismembered the corpse in front of him. His face remained emotionless, lost in thought, barely paying attention to the chaos around him. But his hands were swift and merciless.

Suddenly, Emmanuel Salvador stepped forward confidently, declaring, "It’s true. She is our bride," pride practically glowing on his face.

Laughter erupted from the Al Batris family. It was wild and unhinged, as though they had all gone mad. Even Baron chuckled for a moment before returning to his gruesome work, gathering the severed limbs and cleaning the mess Aurora had left behind.

Joseph spoke next, his voice dripping with mockery, "A bride?" He too burst into laughter.

But then the mood shifted. The air grew tense as Mr. Kidd stepped forward, his tone measured. "We won't confirm anything. Let's just say they’re… getting to know each other. Nothing is certain yet." He placed his glass gently on the table, reaching for his wife's hand.

She added with a calm but firm voice, "Aurora will decide who is worthy." Hand in hand, they left the room, their departure heavy with meaning. The El Salvador family watched them go, their irritation barely hidden before they too exited, leaving behind a storm of whispers.

What would happen if these two families united?

As the room emptied, only Victor remained, silently watching Baron. The El Salvadors had left, the Al Batris were gone, but curiosity still hung thick in the air.

Baron, now finished piecing together the mutilated corpse of Damier, pinned the remains to the wall with almost artistic precision. Lighting a cigarette, he took a long drag before speaking without looking at Victor. "I need to clean this place."

Victor took the hint and left.

A few spectators lingered, eager to see how Baron would "clean." He smirked at them, his amusement palpable. "Do you want me to clean you up too?" Some chuckled nervously, realizing the threat, and quickly fled. But one man stayed behind, his voice laced with disdain. "Do you really think you’re one of them?"

Baron tilted his head, cracking his neck before responding with a cold laugh. "One of them? Do you really think they’ll let another into the Al Batris family?" He chuckled darkly before igniting the corpse in front of him.

As flames devoured the remains, Baron turned and walked away, his hands in his pockets. "Once I close a door, it stays closed," he muttered as he exited.

The spectators scrambled out before him, fully aware of what "cleaning" meant. When Aurora said a place needed cleaning, it meant it had to vanish—completely.

By the time Baron reached the door, the room was empty, save for the burning corpse. He stared at the flames for a moment, then slammed the door shut behind him, sealing the fate of the place.

"It’s good this was only a single-floor hall," he muttered, watching the smoke billow from beneath the door.

Outside, Victor leaned against a black car, calmly smoking. Baron took the driver’s seat without a word, and Victor got in beside him. Without another glance at the burning hall, Baron sped off, leaving behind smoke, fire, and the kind of destruction the Al Batris family would never dare to step into again.

Moments earlier, in front of the building now being devoured by flames, Aurora stood still, the blood on her hands yet to dry. As soon as she and Hector had exited the chaos inside, she yanked her hand free from his grasp, wiping it off carelessly on her dress. She turned to him, her gaze sharp and piercing.

“What do you think you're doing here, Salvador’s prisoner?” she asked, her voice laced with venom.

Hector’s body tensed at her words. The gentle expression he’d worn moments ago vanished, replaced by a dark, furious scowl. His hand shot up, wrapping tightly around her neck as rage surged through him.

“Prisoner?” he growled, his grip tightening.

But Aurora only smirked, brushing the remaining blood off her fingers as if unfazed. “Aren’t you?” she replied coldly, her eyes now filled with something even darker than contempt. It was a void, something blacker than the depths of Hector’s own rage.

“Do you want to die?” she whispered with a chilling calm.

For a second, his anger faltered. He released her neck abruptly, taking two shaky steps back, his breathing ragged.

Aurora straightened her dress, her demeanor once again proud and unbothered. “You’re a prisoner, Hector. And now you say I’m your fiancée? Who made that decision? Your father? Hah.”

She ran a hand through her hair slowly, arrogance radiating from her. “That choice is mine. Oh, pardon me—ours.”

She took a step forward, her presence overwhelming, before adding with a dismissive tone, “But I value my freedom more.”

Without another glance, Aurora turned and walked away, heading straight to the car she had arrived in with Baron. Hector stood frozen, staring into the emptiness she left behind, the weight of her words sinking deep.

“Freedom, huh?” he muttered under his breath, the bitterness clawing at him. “Are any of us really free?”

He stood there for a moment longer, watching the car drive away, its tail lights disappearing into the night. Slowly, he wiped his brow, trying to shake off the whirlwind of emotions, then made his way to another car nearby.