CHAPTER 168

The hours after Leon's departure felt like an eternity. Each tick of the clock echoed in the quiet mansion, a reminder of the time slipping away. The flash drive in my hand felt heavier with every passing minute, as if it held the weight of our entire future.

I tried to distract myself by checking on Olivia, who was sitting quietly in the guest room, her face pale but determined. We exchanged a few words, but the tension in the air made conversation difficult. We both knew what was at stake.

The night wore on, the oppressive silence broken only by the occasional creak of the house settling. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios, each more terrifying than the last. I kept reminding myself that Leon was strong, resourceful, and had faced danger before. But this time felt different. The stakes were higher, and the risks were greater.

Around midnight, just as I was beginning to doze off, my phone buzzed on the bedside table. I jolted awake, heart pounding as I snatched it up, praying it