The alarm didn’t stop, it pulsated through the estate; low, mechanical and relentless though not loud enough to cause panic but just enough to signal that something internal and irreversible had already gone very wrong.
Lorenzo stood still… too still. His body straightened slightly, his shoulders locking into place like something had taken control beneath the surface.
His breathing had evened out perfectly and unnaturally. But his eyes were cold, empty and focused on one thing.
Isabella.
Immediately the realization hit her, her stomach dropped.
“Lorenzo…” she called carefully, taking a slow step back.
“Sofia…” she whispered.
But Sofia was already moving, typing and trying to override something she couldn’t see.
“This is the trigger,” Sofia said fast, her voice tight. “The protocol
