19
The sun had barely risen, but the villa was already awake with tension. Emma's laughter from the nursery was faint, almost drowned out by the constant hum of worry and the occasional ringing phone. Adrian sat at the desk, shoulders tight, eyes scanning over reports, surveillance footage, and the small notes he had taken over the past tense days.
Elena leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, trying to steady herself. Her heart raced, a combination of exhaustion, fear, and frustration. She had never felt so stretched, so close to her own limits.
"This isn't just about Emma anymore," Adrian muttered, voice low, almost a growl. "This is about them knowing we're vulnerable… that we're human."
Elena stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm. "We're human. That's true. But that's also why we survive. We've been through worse, Adrian. We've beaten Vincent at his own games. We can do this too."
