ELENA POV
After my mom's breakthrough, everything changed.
I told Adrien and Damien about her returning memory the next day. Whatever tension existed between us, whatever complicated feelings we were navigating none of it mattered compared to this.
My mother was remembering.
Which meant Brighton's entire empire was at risk.
Which meant we needed to protect her.
"We should set up a rotation," Adrien had said immediately, already in lawyer mode. "Someone with her at all times. If her memory is coming back, Brighton will move against her."
Damien agreed. "I'll take my first watch."
"I'm staying too," I'd insisted.
So we'd established a system: one of us in Isabella's room at all times, security posted outside, cameras monitoring the hallways. The clinic had been cooperative, Adrien's money and connections ensured that.
For three days, it worked.
