That night, Adrian sat alone, staring at an old photograph — a woman with soft silver eyes and a calm smile.Clara Vance.The mother who disappeared right after his father's death.
He'd believed she was dead — or worse, silenced by the Moores.But now, he wasn't so sure.
Luna entered quietly, holding two mugs of coffee."Can't sleep either?" she asked.
He took one, nodding slightly. "I thought she was gone. But that code… it's hers. She used to teach me when I was a kid. 'Encryption is language, Adrian,' she'd say. 'Every secret has a heartbeat.'"
Luna smiled faintly. "Sounds like a genius."
"She was. And now, if she's alive…" He trailed off. "Then this revenge is bigger than I thought."
Elsewhere — Moore Mansion
Elena lay awake, scrolling through financial reports, her heart heavy.The Vanguard deal still bothered her.Something about the transaction — the routing signature — felt personal.
She opened a private program, tracing the data manually.When the result appeared, her breath caught.
Origin Signature: Vance Holdings.
She whispered to herself, "Adrian…"
And for the first time in years, she didn't know if she was afraid — or relieved — that he was still out there.