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Chapter 77 - CHAPTER 77: THE FACE OF FLAME

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Scene 1: Pete vs Rose – Round 1

Pete waited at the rooftop garden of the hotel Rose now owned—yes, owned. The skyline lit behind him, but nothing burned brighter than the storm in his eyes.

Rose entered in a sleek black dress, heels clicking like gunshots.

> "So," she began, "did you come to say sorry again, Pete? Or are we going to pretend you're innocent in all of this?"

Pete didn't move. His jaw tightened.

> "I'm not here to apologize for my father again. I'm here to ask one thing."

She raised an eyebrow, mocking.

> "Oh? Let me guess. 'Why did you come back?'"

Pete's voice dropped low, full of ache.

> "Why didn't you tell me you were in pain?"

Her facade flickered. Just for a second.

> "Because pain makes you weak. And weakness gets you crushed in this world."

> "You were never weak," he said quietly. "You were hurt. You were betrayed. But not weak."

Rose laughed bitterly.

> "Don't pity me, Pete."

> "I don't," he said. "I admire you. I hate what you've done. But I get it now. I see it."

Rose's eyes locked on his—sharp, glittering.

> "Then get out of my way. Because my story doesn't have a happy ending. And I'm not here for love. I'm here to burn every one of them who left me in ashes."

Pete stepped forward.

> "Then burn me too."

Silence. Thick. Heavy. Charged.

> "Why?" she whispered.

> "Because I let myself believe my family was perfect. I let you suffer alone. I chose ignorance. And now… I won't let you destroy yourself with the same pain that made you this."

Her eyes gleamed—not with tears. With rage.

> "Too late, Pete. You're already too late."

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Scene 2: Shadow Watching

Across the street, behind tinted glass in a luxury car, a man closed his laptop after watching the entire confrontation through drone feed.

He smirked.

> "So... Rose is still angry. Perfect."

He turned to the woman beside him.

> "Let her burn everything down. We'll step in when it's all rubble."

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