Two days later, Emily was discharged.
Against medical advice.
Of course.
"I'm not staying in that hospital," she told Sophia firmly.
"I'll go insane."
Sophia didn't argue.
Mostly because she knew it was pointless.
Back at the Moretti mansion, everything felt… different.
Not safer.
Just quieter.
Security had doubled.
Gates reinforced.
Cameras upgraded.
Staff rotations changed.
Even the air felt heavier.
Like the house itself knew something was coming.
Emily walked slowly through the marble hallway, her arm still stiff.
Every step reminded her of the crash.
The impact.
The sound.
The moment everything went dark.
She pushed the thought away.
Focus.
Stay focused.
That was the only way to survive this world.
In the study, Alexander was already working.
Three screens open.
Documents spread across the desk.
Calls running in the background.
He didn't look up when she entered.
"You should be resting."
Emily leaned against the doorway.
"I am resting. This is my version."
Alexander finally glanced at her.
Brief.
Assessing.
Then back to work.
"You don't listen."
"Neither do you."
A pause.
Then, unexpectedly—
He ended the call.
The room fell silent.
Emily straightened slightly.
That was new.
Alexander closed one of the files.
"Sit."
Emily raised an eyebrow.
"That sounded like an order."
"It was."
She walked in anyway.
Sat across from him.
The tension between them wasn't uncomfortable anymore.
It was something else.
Something heavier.
"What are you working on?" she asked.
Alexander slid a document across the desk.
Emily picked it up.
Her eyes scanned the page.
Financial transfers.
Offshore accounts.
Layered shell companies.
Then she saw the name.
"Director."
Her grip tightened.
"That's him."
Alexander nodded.
"Not his real name. But it's the only identity he's used."
Emily looked up.
"Can we trace him?"
"Partially."
That didn't sound promising.
"He's careful," Alexander continued.
"Too careful for someone operating alone."
Emily leaned back slightly.
"So he's part of something bigger."
"Yes."
Silence.
Then Emily said what both of them were thinking:
"This isn't just revenge for a takeover."
Alexander's gaze darkened.
"No."
"So what is it?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Then:
"It's control."
Emily frowned.
"Control of what?"
Alexander leaned forward slightly.
"Moretti."
The word landed heavily.
Emily's mind raced.
"You think someone wants your company?"
"I think someone wants everything."
The scale of it—
It was bigger than she had imagined.
This wasn't sabotage.
This was a takeover attempt.
At the highest level.
Emily exhaled slowly.
"So what's the plan?"
Alexander's lips curved slightly.
Not a smile.
Something sharper.
"We let them think they're winning."
Emily stared at him.
"That's your plan?"
"For now."
"And then?"
Alexander's eyes met hers.
"Then we take everything back."
Emily studied him.
Really studied him.
"You've done this before."
Alexander didn't deny it.
"Yes."
"Did it end well?"
A pause.
Then:
"I won."
Emily shook her head slightly.
"That's not the same thing."
Alexander didn't respond.
Because he knew she was right.