Marrin woke to the soft hum of the city outside her window. Morning light filtered through the blinds, casting long, thin stripes across the room. The streets below were already alive with motion—cars weaving, people hurrying, buses groaning along the asphalt arteries of the metropolis. She took a deep breath, savoring the crisp air and the faint scent of coffee drifting from the kitchen. Today would be pivotal. Every decision mattered; every misstep could unravel the delicate network she had begun to construct.
Her eyes drifted across the room, landing on the neatly organized folders on her desk. Each one represented hours of careful research, painstaking cross-referencing, and deliberate observation. Derek and Vivienne had left a trail, unwittingly leaving behind clues that could be tra
