Chapter 72

The air was thick with a somber tension in Julian’s office. Erica and Julian, along with a few trusted team members, pored over plans and documents scattered across the large mahogany table. Ophelia’s capture had been a victory, but they knew it was far from over. There were loose ends to tie up, powerful allies to dismantle, and a dangerous network to destabilize.

Julian leaned back, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the edge of the table. “Cross will sever his alliance with Ophelia if he thinks she's too exposed or if her network becomes a liability,” he said, breaking the silence. “With Ophelia detained, we finally have the advantage.”

Erica studied a list of Cross’s assets and recent movements. She had learned enough from her father’s teachings to know the value of psychological pressure. “We need to feed Cross just enough information to make him think Ophelia’s network is crumbling,” she said. “If he sees an attack coming, he’ll abandon her.”

Julian nodded, a glint of resp