The photograph lingered in Elena’s mind long after she locked her phone.
Even after checking on Ethan twice.
Even after trying to steady her breathing.
She stood alone in the dim kitchen, city lights flickering through the glass like distant warnings.
Lucas entered quietly. “You saw it.”
Elena nodded.
“That picture is from seven years ago,” she said. “Before everything. Before Adrian. Before Ethan.”
Lucas leaned against the counter. “The investor in that photo…”
“…was arrested for fraud later,” Elena finished. “But I had nothing to do with it.”
“He’ll twist it anyway.”
“He already is.”
Her voice was calm—but there was steel beneath it now.
“That scandal almost ended my career. Victor didn’t just find it… he saved it for the right moment.”
Lucas studied her. “Why didn’t you eve
