Lucien stared at the security monitor.
He didn’t blink.
He barely breathed.
The little girl outside couldn’t have been more than five.
She wore a white dress that was now stained with mud.
Her teddy bear was missing one button eye.
She looked exhausted.
Not frightened.
Just… tired.
The guard carefully unfolded the letter.
“Sir…”
He looked toward Lucien.
“It really is addressed to you.”
⸻
Lucien took the letter.
His fingers trembled as he opened it.
There were only three handwritten lines.
She has always called you Daddy.
You simply don’t remember why.
—The Architect
Silence.
The room felt suffocating.
“This is psychological warfare.”
Damien said immediately.
“They’re trying to make you question your own memories.”
Lucien folded the note.
“I know.”
But there wasn’
