Chapter 33 Chapter 33

Chapter 33 Chapter 33
Sophia's POV

Something was wrong, but I couldn't detect where the issue was from. I knew it the moment I woke up, having a heavy feeling in my chest, like a storm was coming.

"Kira, do you feel that?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied, her voice tensed. "Something's off."

I checked my phone, seven missed calls from Ethan's mother, three from my lead supplier and two from the craftsman who'd been working on my custom pieces.

My stomach dropped, I had to call them all back, called Ethan's mother first.

"Sophia, thank the Moon Goddess." Her voice was strained. "We have a problem, a big one at that."

"What happened?"

"Three of your suppliers called this morning, they're canceling their contracts, with no explanation. Just... canceling."

My blood ran cold, I couldn't get it right. "What? Why?" My voice cracked.

"I don't know, and it's not just them. Two of your craftsmen quit, they said they didn't want to work with you anymore and several customers who placed orders yesterday are demanding refunds."

I sat up in bed, my mind racing. "That doesn't make sense. Everything was fine yesterday."

"I know, but Sophia, there are rumors spreading. People are saying your designs are stolen. That you're difficult to work with and that your jewelry is overpriced and poor quality."

"That's not true!" I stood up, pacing. "None of that is true!"

"I know it's not, but someone is spreading these lies and people are believing them."

Who could this be?
Marcus! The name stuck in my head. It had to be Marcus.

"I'll handle this," I said, my voice steady despite the panic clawing at my chest. "Don't worry, I'll fix it."

I hung up and immediately called Violet, she answered on the second ring. "Sophia? What's wrong?"

"I need your help. Now."



An hour later, I was sitting across from Violet in our usual café, my hands wrapped around a cup of tea I couldn't drink.

"Tell me everything," Violet said gently.

I explained it all. The cancellations. The rumors. The sudden, inexplicable collapse of everything I'd built.

Violet's expression darkened. "It's dark magic. Mind control potions, most likely."

"What?"

"Someone is using potions to manipulate your suppliers and craftsmen. Making them obey commands they wouldn't normally follow." She leaned forward. "Sophia, this is serious. This is illegal dark magic."

"Lila," I breathed. "It has to be Lila. Marcus doesn't know magic."

"Probably. But Marcus is definitely involved." Violet pulled out her phone, scrolling through something. "I've been monitoring magical activity in the area. There's been a spike of dark magic use over the past twenty-four hours. All centered around your business contacts."

Rage burned through me. "He's trying to destroy everything I've built."

"Yes. And there's more." Violet's expression turned grave. "I heard through my contacts that Marcus is planning to launch his own jewelry line. Using your designs."

"He already stole some of my sketches. But I have new designs he doesn't know about."

"Are you sure?" Violet asked. "Because if he has someone on the inside, someone close to you..."

My mind raced. Who would betray me? Who had access to my new designs?

Then I remembered. The portfolio I'd left at the store yesterday. The one with my latest sketches.

"He's going to steal them," I said quietly. "Or maybe he already has."

"Then we need to act fast." Violet leaned back, thinking. "Sophia, I have an idea. But it's risky."

"I'm listening."

"We set a trap. You create flawed designs. Beautiful on the surface, but structurally unsound. You leave them where Marcus can find them. When he steals them and launches his line, the jewelry will fall apart. You'll expose him publicly for theft and using enslaved labor through dark magic."

I stared at her. "That's brilliant."

"It's also dangerous. If Marcus finds out, he could retaliate."

"I don't care." My voice was hard. "He wants to play dirty? Fine. Let's play dirty."

Violet smiled. "That's my girl. Now, I'll give you a tracking potion. We apply it to the flawed designs. When Marcus steals them, we'll know immediately. And we'll be able to trace the dark magic back to Lila."

"Perfect."



I spent the rest of the day creating the flawed designs. Beautiful necklaces with weak clasps. Gorgeous earrings with unstable settings. Rings that looked stunning but would tarnish within days.

Each piece was a work of art. And each piece was a weapon.

By evening, I had six completed designs. I photographed them, printed them, and left them in a folder marked "New Collection" in my studio at the store.

Then I waited.



When I returned to the palace, Ethan was waiting for me in my room. He stood by the window, his shoulders tense.

"You've been gone all day," he said without turning around.

"I was handling something."

"Handling what?" He turned to face me, and I saw the worry in his eyes. "Sophia, my mother told me what happened. Your suppliers are canceling. The rumors."

"It's Marcus. He's sabotaging my business."

Ethan's jaw clenched. "I'll kill him."

"No." I walked over to him. "I have a plan. I'm handling it."

"Handling it how?"

I told him everything. The mind controls potions. Violet's help. The trap I'd set.

When I finished, Ethan stared at me. Then he pulled me into his arms, holding me so tight I could barely breathe.

"You're incredible," he murmured against my hair. "And terrifying. And mine."

"Yours," I agreed, my voice muffled against his chest.

He pulled back slightly, his hand cupping my face. "I hate that he's hurting you. I hate that I can't just rip his throat out and end this."

"I know. But this is better. When his jewelry line fails, when everyone sees what he's done, he'll be ruined. Completely."

Ethan's eyes darkened. "You're vindictive. I love it."

"I learned from the best."

He kissed me then, hard and possessive. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me flush against him. I could feel the tension in his body, the barely controlled need.

"I've been thinking about you all day," he growled against my lips. "About last night. About how you felt in my arms."

"Ethan..." My breath hitched as his mouth moved to my neck, his teeth grazing my pulse point.

"You're mine, Sophia. Say it."

"I'm yours."

"Again."

"I'm yours," I breathed as his hands slid under my shirt, his touch sending fire through my veins.

He lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to the bed. His mouth never left mine, claiming, possessing, consuming.

"No one touches what's mine," he said, his voice rough as he laid me down. "No one hurts what's mine. Marcus wants to play games? Fine. But he'll learn that you belong to me. And I protect what's mine."

His hands were everywhere, rough and gentle at the same time. Each touch reminded me that I was his. That I was safe. That I was wanted.

When he finally pulled back, we were both breathing hard. My lips were swollen, my body humming with need.

"Tomorrow," Ethan said, his forehead resting against mine, "when Marcus takes the bait, we destroy him. Together."

"Together," I agreed.



Later that night, I lay in Ethan's arms, my head on his chest. His heartbeat was steady beneath my ear, calming.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand.

I reached for it, expecting a message from Violet.

But it was a notification from the tracking potion app Violet had installed.

ALERT: Tracking potion activated. Target acquired.

I sat up, my heart racing.

"What is it?" Ethan asked, immediately alert.

I looked at him, a slow smile spreading across my face. "He took the bait."

Ethan's eyes gleamed. "When?"

"Just now. Marcus just stole the flawed designs."

We stared at each other, the weight of what was coming settling between us.

Tomorrow, everything would fall apart for Marcus.

Tomorrow, he would finally pay for everything he'd done and he would pay in a hard way.

"Game on, I'm standing behind you always" Ethan whispered.

I smiled in the darkness. "Game on for sure.”