Maddy had barely given herself time to enjoy the chaos she had stirred before moving to her second target.
Ethan.
He was harder to corner.
He was always working, always moving, always surrounded by guards or healers or allies loyal to Sophia.
But she knew his routines.
And that evening, as he walked through the outer gardens of the recovery center with a satchel of supplies for the night shift staff, she intercepted him.
“Ethan,” she called.
He turned, surprised. “Maddy?”
“I need to speak with you,” she said breathlessly. “It’s important.”
He hesitated, then nodded once. “Quickly. I have work to finish.”
“It’s about Sophia.”
That was enough to draw him in.
They sat. She didn’t waste time.
“Do you know she lied to you?,” Maddy said softly. “I think it's time for yoy to know the
