Seraphina did not sleep that night; the anonymous message remained open on her phone long after midnight, the words unsettled her more than she wanted to admit because whoever sent them understood the investigation's structure almost immediately. They knew she was targeting Evelyn. They knew she had access to the leaked financial records. Most dangerously, they knew enough to redirect her attention confidently.
That meant intelligence, access, and proximity, and Seraphina no longer knew which possibility disturbed her most.
The lights inside Lucien's private office remained dim except for the desk lamp near the window. Financial reports, printed documents, and legal summaries covered most of the table between them.
Lucien stood beside the bar cabinet, pouring coffee into two cups. "You have been reading the same page for fifteen minutes," he said quietly.
Seraphina looked up from the documents. "I already finished it."
"Then your attention is somewhere else." He said.
