The room fell silent.
Dead silent.
Every eye remained fixed on the photograph displayed on the screen.
Jethro sat on a worn sofa, clutching a newspaper with small trembling hands. His expression was frightened, confused, but thankfully unharmed.
Amelia's heart ached at the sight.
Her son.
Alive.
Still alive.
Thank God.
But that wasn't what held everyone's attention.
It was the reflection.
The barely visible figure standing behind him.
And the silver signet ring on the man's right hand.
A ring only six Blackwood Industries executives possessed.
A ring Ethan Cole wore every single day.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody breathed.
The silence stretched.
Then Damien quietly said,
"Zoom in."
The cyber specialist obeyed immediately.
The image enlarged.
Pixelated slightly.
But not enough
