Mariella’s call came just after noon. Sari was sitting in the clinic’s small break room, staring at the faint crack in the wall by the coffee maker. The sound of Mariella’s voice on the other end didn’t bring relief. It brought confirmation.
“They backed out,” Mariella said flatly. “The lender pulled the offer.”
Sari blinked. “What? Why?”
“You already know why.”
There was no need for a long explanation. The private lender, who just yesterday had been all charm and numbers, suddenly “reassessed their risk appetite.” Which in normal language meant: the Elizaldes and Almedas made a phone call.
“They said they don’t want to be caught in the crossfire of a high-profile case,” Mariella continued. “They used the words ‘institutional sensitivity.’ Translation: they’re scared. Ardent Lex repre
