#Chapter 61 Mourning

Dimitri Shaken but oddly exhilarated, I watched as Albert leave. Albert’s fierceness reminded me of my own rise to power. I let the look on his face wash through my mind and continued smiling. Albert had left me seething, but there was a peculiar satisfaction in the way he had stood his ground. I admired his defiance, even though it was directed at me. For a moment, I saw myself in him—a reflection of the same ruthlessness that I had always prided myself on. It was a sobering realization, yet it also sparked a sense of twisted pride. Albert had the potential to be as cold and unyielding as I was. The potential to be... I had seen the look in his eyes—the intense, fierce protectiveness. I had split them, but the connection wasn't over. Mia still had a hold on him, and that was a vulnerability I couldn't afford to ignore. If I was to succeed in my plans, I needed to remove her from the equation. If she were allowed to live, she could be used against him. I made a call to