Joseph stared at the envelope.
For a brief moment, he did not move, as if simply looking at it might somehow reveal its contents. A flicker of unease crossed his features. Something about Axel's expression, that unsettling calm paired with the faint smile, made the simple object feel far more threatening than paper had any right to be.
Slowly, Joseph reached forward. His fingers hovered for half a second before finally touching the envelope.
The hesitation did not escape Axel's notice. He leaned back slightly in his chair, watching with unmistakable interest, like a man observing the opening scene of a performance he had already memorized.
Joseph slid a finger beneath the flap. The quiet tearing sound seemed unnaturally loud in the silent room.
He pulled out the documents. At first, his expression remained neutral.
Then, it changed. His brows tightened. His eyes moved rapidly across the pages, and a few pictures brought back memories from several years ago.
