Ethan's eyes narrowed at the old man's words.
"I wouldn't dare?" His grip tightened around the man's throat.
The old man coughed violently, gasping out, "Do you… remember a woman named Rainie Chen?"
Ethan froze at the name. His expression hardened, darkening in an instant.
"What does she have to do with this?"
A twisted smile crept across the old man's lips. "I had no choice. You moved everyone into the Hidden Territory, so she was the only one left I could reach. Otherwise, how could I possibly control someone as dangerous as you?"
He had guessed correctly—Ethan's grip slackened.
"Control me? The way you controlled Celeste?" Ethan's voice was low, grim.
"What are you after? It can't be as simple as keeping me on a leash." He lowered the old man slightly but didn't release him.
"That's none of your concern," Director Vaughn said, arrogance returning with the air in his lungs. "Open your Mindscape. Let me plant a seed in you, and I'll release the woman."
