LOGINOlivia stared at the name written beneath Jonathan’s original agreement. Samuel Hart. She recognized it immediately. The same man whose partial badge had appeared in the scratched photograph. The same man her mother had believed was dead. The legal witness who had signed the original protection agreement before everything began to unravel. Michael leaned closer and compared the signature on the original page with the one attached to the later amendment. The loops and pressure marks looked nearly identical. “Someone used his authorization after he was supposed to be gone,” Michael said. An anonymous message arrived a moment later. It contained only an address and a single line: The office still remembers what he signed.The address belonged to Samuel Hart’s former legal office. The building had been closed for years. Dust coated the windows, but the lock on the side entrance showed recent marks. Someone had forced it open and then carefully closed it again. Inside, draw
Michael turned the phone so Olivia and Lucien could read the message. If Olivia opens the archive, Lucien will learn what his father really did to her mother.The words hung between them. Olivia’s face remained controlled, but her fingers tightened around the edge of the table. “We haven't opened anything yet,” she said. “We investigate first.” Michael traced the message. The signal had passed through a server connected to the private legal archive. Someone was monitoring their investigation in real time. Adrian searched the remaining index entries and found a reference to an unfiled Ashford security report from the night Olivia’s mother disappeared. Lucien recognized the signature of his father’s former security director. Using his father’s old credentials, Lucien accessed a private storage facility linked to the archive. Inside was a single note, written in precise handwriting: The woman has agreed to leave. The child must remain protected. Do not allow the Benefactor to
The words from the recording still hung in the air. Now ask why the Benefactor wanted you alive.Olivia stared at the screen. For years she had believed her mother’s disappearance was connected to the feud between the Carter and Ashford families. She had assumed someone wanted to hurt her family, destroy their reputation, or use her as leverage against Richard. Now she was beginning to understand that the truth might be more disturbing. Someone did not simply want her captured. Someone specifically ordered that she must survive. Olivia turned to her mother. “You knew someone was protecting me, but did you know they were keeping me alive for a reason?” Her mother hesitated. “I knew they wanted you alive. I never knew the full reason. Every time I tried to uncover it, someone reminded me that your life depended on my silence.” Olivia struggled with the answer. Protection should mean keeping someone safe, but the Benefactor’s actions suggested something different. Lucien no
The phone went silent. Nobody moved for several seconds. Olivia continued staring at the receiver. Samuel’s final words repeated in her mind: Don’t trust anyone who was there that night.She slowly turned around. Everyone in the room had some connection to that night: her mother, Richard, the mysterious protector, Jonathan (though deceased), and the people who inherited Jonathan’s protection network. Olivia did not want suspicion to destroy the people who had been helping her. But she also could not ignore Samuel’s warning. Lucien noticed the conflict on her face. He quietly told her, “You don’t have to decide who to trust tonight.” Olivia looked at him. “But someone already decided who I shouldn’t trust.” Lucien took her hand. “Then we’ll find out who.” Michael immediately checked the call. The number Samuel used was not a normal phone number. It was routed through an old encrypted communication system. Michael explained that Samuel deliberately avoided revealing his
The underground passage remained dark after the mysterious call. Everyone was tense. Olivia kept staring at the address displayed on her phone, the old Ashford legal building. Lucien recognized the location immediately. He explained that the building was once used by the Ashford family’s private legal division but had been abandoned for years. Olivia asked, “Why would someone send me there?” Lucien answered, “Because they want us to find something.” Adrian was suspicious. “Or they want us exactly where they planned.” The mysterious protector agreed. He warned them that whoever sent the message knew they were investigating N-17. Olivia refused to back down. “I’ve spent my entire life not knowing what happened to me. I’m not walking away now.” Lucien supported her decision. They prepared to leave the underground passage. Before they left, Olivia stopped her mother. She wanted the truth. “You said you thought he was dead. Who was he?” Her mother finally gave them th
The clinic became tense after Michael confirmed that several people were outside. Olivia was still holding the childhood photograph. She did not look at the people outside. Her attention remained on her mother. She raised the photograph. “Who is this?” Her mother refused to answer immediately. Olivia’s voice became firmer. “You know him.” Her mother finally admitted, “Yes.” Olivia felt betrayed. She asked why her mother never told her. Her mother explained that she believed telling Olivia the truth would expose the person who had protected her. Olivia responded, “You keep calling it protection. All I ever got was silence.” Lucien remained beside Olivia. He did not speak for her. Instead he allowed her to demand the answers herself. Michael checked the security cameras again. The four people outside had separated. Two were moving toward the main entrance. One was approaching the rear entrance. The fourth remained beside the vehicle. Adrian immediately realized t







