Elena's POV
Julian paced for two hours. Thinking. Calling. Stopping. Then pacing again.
I sat curled on the couch, watching the city lights blink through the windows, the weight of everything pressing down like fog.
Then suddenly—he stopped.
"I have an idea," he said, eyes lit with something dangerous.
I straightened.
"The imposter wants your shares, right? We'll give them to him—except they'll be fake. A full setup. Just like we planned originally. That's how we trap him."
I blinked. "You're cute when you think you're the only genius in the room."
He smirked.
Then his expression faltered.
"Oh... that's true." He paused, as if reality had just slapped him. "Anna."
The air shifted again.
He looked away, jaw tight. "We can't leave her behind."
"No," I said. "We won't."
Julian ran a hand through his hair, thinking again—but this time, it wasn't just about strategy. It was about Anna.
"She's smart," I said quietly. "But she's been in there too long."
