The grand ballroom of the Kairo estate was a symphony of opulence, a cavernous space where the crystal chandeliers wept light onto the polished marble floors and the low, cultured hum of aristocracy filled the air. It was here, amidst the glittering throng, that Michael Helwart stood like a dark, still pillar in a rushing river of silk and suits. His wife, Linsy, hovered just a step behind him, a silent, elegant shadow in a gown of deep emerald that made her pale skin seem almost luminous. She ...