Whitney's fear and desperation had curdled into a reckless, singular obsession: proving Ethan Blackwood was a criminal and finding Ruby. The frustration of being censored had driven her to a dangerous edge.
She stopped relying on traditional journalism. Instead, she decided on a bold, foolish escalation, risking everything for a chance to be heard. She used her old press credentials to stake out the Blackwood Tower, not for a quote, but to gather evidence. She watched the complex, convinced that Ethan would soon make a mistake or that Ruby would try to signal her.
When news of a mysterious, massive fire at an abandoned industrial site on the city's outskirts made the morning headlines and police claimed it was being investigated, Whitney saw a chance. Ignoring every warning and she dro
