The night was unusually quiet. Even the city, ever restless, seemed to pause as though holding its breath. From the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse, the skyline glittered like scattered diamonds, yet it felt distant, almost unreal. The glow of streetlights and neon signs failed to penetrate the tension that lingered in the apartment.

Alexander stood near the glass, shoulders squared, hands resting lightly on the railing. His eyes, sharp and calculating, swept over the cityscape, yet ...