Three days after the terrifying rescue night, the city was engulfed in an unprecedented media shockwave, though Richard remained oblivious to the public outcry. He hadn't bothered with the news. Every precious moment was spent fortifying his world against the return of the shadows.
He stood in the discreet, high-security apartment—a fortress he had personally designed—gazing into the next room where Elena and Rosa rested. His wife and daughter had been moved to this hidden shelter, a location known only to Richard and his most trusted assets, protected by an elite security network that functioned flawlessly. They were safe. That was the only truth that mattered.
Both Elena and Rosa had begun to recover from the trauma. Elena, ever resilient, had clung to him, her silent presence a quiet
