My Husband Is a Million Years Old Vampire

"But..." he added, and his voice dropped like a blade. "We do not tolerate blood spilled from within. That is the one line no one crosses."

At that moment he stopped behind three of the circle.

"Rico. Mads. Silas," he said sharply.

The three men stood at once. No hesitation.

Santos didn’t look at them, just stared ahead.

"Just like I said you have three days. Go to the city. Find out who touched our own. And when you do—bring them here." His tone dropped. "Alive."

The other men around the table exchanged grim looks.

Santos continued, "No one dies until I say so. But every single person involved... I want them on their knees. With this we don’t just send a message. We engrave it into their bones."

Silas cracked his knuckles. "Consider it done."

Rico’s eyes narrowed. "We’ve already got a lead. It won’t take long."

Mads gave a single nod. "We’ll make sure whoever it is never sees daylight again."

Santos finally turned and faced them.

"Good. If someone out there thinks they can touch the Circle... let’s remind them who we are."

**

Maria stood in front of her bedroom window, arms folded tight across her chest. The lights outside blinked softly, but all she saw was Valentina’s smile—the same irritating, undeserved smile that had been haunting her mind since inside the car dealership.

At that moment she started pacing.

"Why does everything suddenly seem to be going her way?" she muttered under her breath, clenching her jaw. "How?!"

It was eating her alive, that girl was supposed to disappear. She was supposed to burn with that fire. That accident should’ve ended her story—not restarted it.

Instead, Valentina came back. Stronger. Smiling. With more presence than ever before.

And now she’s with Raymond?

Maria gritted her teeth harder. She had no idea who Raymond really was or where he came from, but she knew one thing—he was dangerous to her plans.

Because with him by Valentina’s side, Valentina had confidence again, Strength, And worse? Connections that shook even people like Liam.

Then Maria picked up her phone, staring at the blank screen. No messages, no updates.

Chloe’s wedding must go perfectly. She couldn’t allow a single thing to ruin it—not Liam’s rising reputation, and definitely not Valentina walking around as if she had already won.

"She thinks she’s happy," Maria whispered to herself. "She thinks she’s winning now."

She paused... then her voice dropped into something darker.

"I’ll take that smile from her. I swear I’ll take it from her."

She turned sharply, her heels clicking across the marble floor as her mind began working, racing. There had to be a way. A move. A plan. Something to break that confidence.

At that moment something hit her.

’Yes... that’s it. Remove Raymond, and everything else will collapse.’

But how?

Then She narrowed her eyes.

"There must be something I can do... something to wipe this madness away."

Maria’s shoe tapped the cold marble tiles with impatient rhythm, her eyes narrowed and sharp like someone solving a deadly puzzle. Her fingers trembled slightly as she clenched the edges of her silk robe.

She had been pacing for minutes .

Not because she didn’t have ideas—but because none of them worked.

"They’re not stupid," she muttered under her breath, lips pressed into a thin line.

"They’re not weak either. Especially not him."

Raymond.

The name was now a personal threat. Not just to her plans—but to everything she had built so carefully for years. With him around, Valentina had become untouchable. Confident. Dangerous.

Then Maria stopped by the mirror, staring at her own reflection.

"If I’m going to do this," she whispered slowly, "then it has to be perfect. I need something that even he... he won’t see coming."

She turned her head slightly, still thinking.

"He can’t escape it."

Not this time, again she walked toward the window, Her jaw tightened again when she remembered the last visit—when she foolishly stepped into Raymond’s house.

And she remembered that woman... that terrifying woman who welcomed her. Raymond’s mother.

Just thinking of her presence sent a chill down Maria’s spine. She wasn’t someone you could trick. She wasn’t someone you could smile at and expect to gain leverage over.

"I can’t go back there," Maria murmured.

And that was the problem. The entire family was unlike anything she imagined. They weren’t loud or boastful—but they moved like people who had more power than anyone dared to measure.

And clearly... wealthier than she thought. Which meant the usual games wouldn’t work. No insults. No social jabs. No money intimidation. Nothing.

"They’re not chasing validation like the others," she muttered. "So what can I use?"

Her mind kept spinning. Frustration slowly melted into a dangerous kind of calm.

She needed to be smart. This wasn’t about rage anymore—it was about strategy. About making sure every step she took didn’t just hit—it destroyed.

Then She glanced down at her phone... then tossed it on the bed.

It’s not about attacking Valentina now. It’s about targeting Raymond.

A slow smirk played at her lips.

Break him... and she crumbles.

And once that happened—Maria would make sure Valentina stayed broken, Forever.

At that moment Maria sat back on the edge of her bed, staring at the ceiling as her fingers drummed lightly against her thigh. For the past hour, her thoughts had been running wild—grasping at straws, stitching together half-baked ideas only to unravel them seconds later.

"Poison? Too dramatic."

"Blackmail? Too obvious."

Sabotage her business? That was already attempted—and failed.

Nothing worked. And the more she thought about Raymond, the more she realized the truth—he was always two steps ahead. Always watching.

So maybe...Maria’s eyes narrowed slowly.

"What if... I stop going after the shield... and hit the heart instead?"

She stood suddenly, her silk robe swishing at her feet as she began pacing again, one palm pressed against her forehead.

"Yes... that might work. If I can’t get to him—then I’ll deal with her."

She smiled.

No matter how strong she pretended to be, she was still a woman—still someone who bled when cut deep enough. And Maria had known her long enough to know exactly where to dig.

"She won’t see it coming."

The idea was forming now. Solid. Real. It had shape and weight—and it was cruel enough to work.

With new purpose, she snatched her phone off the dresser, unlocked it with a swift tap, and searched for the number.

"Let’s see if you’ll pick."

She hit call.

Once, Twice.

The dial tone rang—once—before the line fell dead.

Valentina didn’t answer, Maria’s smile grew colder.

Maria stared at her phone for a long moment after the line disconnected. Then, with a deep breath, she pressed call again—this time, she already knew the performance she needed to put on.

As soon as the line connected, her voice shifted. Gone was the cold sharpness. Now she sounded warm—soft, even apologetic.

"Valentina... please don’t hang up."

There was a brief silence.

"I know," she said gently, "I know I’ve not exactly been... kind to you. I’ve acted out. I’ve let my emotions get the better of me too many times. But I swear, that wasn’t how I wanted things to go. I’m really sorry."

She paused—letting her voice break just enough to sound genuine, but not too much to feel forced.

"I mean it, Valentina. I’ve watched you grow, and the truth is... you’re good. You’re really smart when it comes to business. You have ideas no one else even thinks of."

There was another small pause.

"Actually, that’s why I called."

Maria took a quiet breath, her tone slipping into a more natural rhythm now—calm, rehearsed.

"Our family... we recently got a new contract. It’s big. But the terms, the profit margins—they’re a bit complicated. We’ve asked around but... no one we know is able to look at it the way you would."

She exhaled softly.

"I was wondering... would you be able to take a look at it for us? Just tell us if it’s worth it... if it’s something we should go for."

Maria’s voice on the phone was unusually calm, a far cry from the venom she used to spit.

"Valentina, I know you’re angry with us... and you have every right to be. You do."

At that moment Valentina didn’t say anything, and Maria knew she would have to do more.

"I’m not asking you to come help me. I know I don’t deserve that. But please, just... be there for the meeting. Look at it. Tell us if it’s good. If it’s bad. We just need your mind, Valentina."

Valentina blinked, confused for a moment. Her stepmother’s voice didn’t sound fake, but it didn’t feel right either. Why now?

Maria’s tone softened again, like she was lowering her pride just enough to land a blow.

"Please, don’t do it for me. I know I’ve failed you so many times. But the family—everyone else—they still depend on this. Just do it for them. For the family."