Melinda’s POV
I knew something was wrong the moment Carrie called.
Again.
She never called this early — not without warning. Not without texting first. But today, she skipped straight to panic.
“Mel,” she said, voice raw. “Someone leaked the manuscript.”
I stopped walking.
The twins were halfway down the driveway, racing to beat each other to the car, lunchboxes swinging.
My phone was cold against my ear.
“What do you mean leaked?”
“I mean the full file. Unedited. Online. Circulating fast.”
I closed my eyes.
“But that’s not possible. The publisher encrypted—”
“Not just leaked,” Carrie cut in. “Altered.”
I drove the kids to school on autopilot.
They chattered in the backseat.
Elijah hummed a song he’d made up.
Elena talked about a glitter science project.
I nodded.
Smiled.
