Elena didn’t like losing control.
And right now—
She could feel it slipping.
⸻
The livestream replayed again on her screen.
Elara’s calm.
Her precision.
That single line—
“Then they’re afraid of the truth.”
⸻
Elena’s grip tightened.
⸻
“She thinks she’s smart,” she muttered.
⸻
But this—
This wasn’t part of the plan.
⸻
The narrative wasn’t supposed to shift.
People weren’t supposed to question.
⸻
They were supposed to believe.
⸻
Her phone buzzed.
Another notification.
⸻
More comments.
More doubt.
⸻
Her jaw clenched.
⸻
“Fine,” she said sharply.
⸻
If subtlety wasn’t working—
She would force it.
⸻
⸻
Back at the house—
Leon stood by the table, laptop open, fingers moving quickly.
⸻
“I think I found something,” he said.
⸻
Maya looked up immediately. “How s
