Ares

Morning came too quickly. I hadn’t slept — not really. Every thought circled around Vanguard Industries, Gideon, Evelyn Cross… and now Camilla Hawthorne.

The stakes had changed. This wasn’t just corporate sabotage anymore. It was personal.

I watched Hope sleep in her crib for a moment, her tiny fists curled around her blanket, her peaceful little face reminding me why I couldn’t afford to fail.

I turned to Leon, who had already laid out the morning updates. “Sir, ...