Chapter Twenty
The night had fallen quietly over the city, soft yet heavy with the tension that had been building for weeks. The streets below glimmered faintly under the glow of streetlights, reflections dancing on the wet asphalt from an earlier drizzle. The penthouse was bathed in shadows, the warm light from the living room lamps cutting through the darkness.
Elena curled on the sofa, knees pulled to her chest, a thin blanket draped over her shoulders. Her body was tense, muscles coiled with lingering unease. The day's events, combined with the weight of the hidden files, left her shaken. She had tried to focus on tasks, even reading, but her mind refused to cooperate. Every quiet noise, every shift in the apartment, seemed amplified, as though the walls themselves were listening.
