Semua Bab Wounded Rose of Garden Metro: Bab 21 - Bab 30

For the first time in weeks, the city felt quiet.Cassidy Monroe had gone completely dark—no public statements, no media appearances, no damage control. Her official social media accounts were wiped clean. Monroe Enterprises had issued a generic “pause in leadership operations” memo, and all charitable initiatives under her name were suspended.The public assumed she was broken.Shamed into retreat.Elara didn’t believe that for a second.“She’s not hiding,” Elara said, standing before a map of Garden Metro pinned with threads and markers. “She’s changing tactics.”Damien leaned over the desk beside her, scanning the board.“She’s too strategic to collapse under one narrative shift. If she’s quiet, she’s building something. Or someone.”Splice chimed in through the intercom.“You’re both right. Cassidy registered a new shell company last week—under a recycled Monroe charity license.”The screen lit up behind her, revealing the name:“Lighthouse Promise Foundation”Marcus furrowed his

Damien stood at the window of the operations room, arms crossed tightly across his chest, the night painting shadows across his features.“Project Nightfall,” he said under his breath. “I’ve heard whispers… but I never believed it was real.”Splice spun in her chair, fingers dancing across the keyboard. “It’s more than real. It was a ghost operation—off-grid, off-record, and buried so deep even the syndicates whispered about it like a damn bedtime story.”Elara paced the floor, heart pounding. “What exactly was it?”Marcus, unusually quiet, finally spoke.“It was Cassidy Monroe’s answer to control,” he said grimly. “An experiment on orphans, street kids, and runaways. The goal was to break them—reprogram them—to create perfect loyalty. Soldiers, spies, and servants who would never betray her. Not because they were paid… but because they were hardwired to obey.”Splice pulled up a grainy blueprint on the main screen. “This was the Nightfall facility. Located just outside Garden Metro i

The storm hadn’t stopped since Elara’s broadcast.It was as if Garden Metro’s sky was trying to warn its people that something irreversible had been set in motion.In the Vale estate’s operations room, everyone was tense. Even the sound of Splice’s rapid typing carried a sharp edge.Damien paced the floor, muttering under his breath. Marcus sat with his back against the wall, eyes closed, but Elara knew he wasn’t resting—just listening. Waiting.Then Splice froze.“Uh… guys?” Her voice was tight, almost brittle. “You’re gonna want to see this.”She turned one of the monitors toward them.The feed showed a dimly lit warehouse. A single metal chair sat in the middle of the room, a figure bound to it. A cloth bag covered their head, but even through the grainy quality of the video, Elara recognized the body shape instantly.Penny.Her throat went dry. “Where is this?”The camera zoomed slightly, and another figure stepped into frame.Cassidy Monroe.She wore black gloves, a silk blouse,

The rain stopped by morning, but the air still smelled of it—heavy and metallic, as if the city was holding its breath.Elara woke to the sound of muffled voices in the hall. She pulled on a loose sweater and stepped out to find Marcus and Damien hunched over the breakfast counter. Both had their phones out, faces drawn tight.“What happened?” she asked.Damien didn’t look up. “Cassidy happened.”Marcus slid his phone across the counter. On the screen was a live feed from the metro’s financial district. A luxury car was being towed, its black paint gleaming under the pale light.“Jules’ car,” Marcus said grimly. “One of our main couriers. They ‘found’ a stash of unregistered weapons in the trunk. He’s in holding now.”Elara’s stomach tightened. Jules wasn’t just a courier—he was a lifeline. He moved messages and packages the digital net couldn’t touch.“How did they plant it?” she asked.Marcus shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. The point is, she didn’t come after you this time.”“She’s

The two gunmen blocked the door, their silhouettes sharp in the dim light. Cassidy didn’t raise her voice, but every syllable carried the weight of command.“Step away from her, Elara.”Elara’s hand tightened on the knife she’d used to cut Lena’s gag. Her pulse thundered, but she kept her voice calm.“You’ve made your point. Let her go.”Cassidy’s smile was slow, deliberate. “And throw away my only leverage? I don’t think so.”One of the guards stepped closer, his pistol aimed directly at Elara’s chest. Lena squirmed against her ropes, shaking her head frantically.Elara’s earpiece crackled. Damien’s voice was a faint whisper. “You’re surrounded. Outer perimeter’s tight. If I trigger the diversion now, you’ll have sixty seconds to move before reinforcements swarm back in.”She shifted her stance subtly, angling herself between Cassidy and Lena. “Do it,” she murmured.Cassidy arched an eyebrow. “Talking to your little friends? Don’t bother. This building is locked down. You’re not leav