CHAPTER 91 — THE COST OF STANDING STILL
Morning arrived sharp and unforgiving.
The sky over the city had cleared overnight, but the clarity felt deceptive, like calm water hiding a dangerous depth beneath. Elena watched the sunlight spill across the glass walls of the Kane penthouse, illuminating a world that looked unchanged—yet felt irrevocably altered.
The voluntary audit had worked.
Too well.
Markets had stabilized, headlines had softened, and Kane Industries was being praised for transparency and leadership. On the surface, it looked like victory.
Elena knew better.
"They won't strike where we're watching anymore," she said quietly.
Adrian stood across the room, adjusting his cufflinks with measured precision. "No. They'll go where it hurts quietly."
"People," Elena added.
Adrian's hands stilled. "Yes."
