The night had stretched into hours, silent but tense, the Sterlings’ mansion a fortress under siege before any battle had even truly begun. Alina’s eyes never left the monitors, scanning the feeds as shadows moved across the corridors, lights flickered, and the subtle creak of the mansion whispered of potential danger.

Hope stirred in her arms, and Alina adjusted the baby gently, rocking her to maintain calm. Patricia’s watchful gaze never left the feeds either, her fingers ready to ...