Elias pulled a chair closer to the bed, settling with a laptop balanced on his lap. The screen's soft glow highlighted the sharp angles of his face.
"Lucas has a network—trusted allies inside and outside the company. We can't just charge in blindly," Elias said, his voice low and steady. "First, we dismantle his support base."
Adeline's father rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I have contacts who owe me favors. They can dig into his current operations."
Adeline's eyes brightened, determination flickering despite her weakness. "And when we have the proof, we expose him. Let the world see what he really is."
Elias's fingers tapped a measured rhythm on the keyboard, pulling up surveillance reports and intercepted communications. "This is what we've gathered so far—movement patterns, associates, financial trails. It's not much, but it's enough."
He lifted his gaze, voice sharp and cold. "Nathan and I will start securing the company's assets. We'll plant our own agents inside Lucas's inner circle."
Her father's jaw tightened. "And Lucas himself?"
"Keep him off balance. Force him into mistakes," Elias said. "When the time is right, we cut him off completely."
Adeline's voice steadied, a spark of the old fire returning. "I'll handle internal communications—use my position to mask our moves as we build the case."
Elias regarded her with rare softness. "I'll cover you. No one touches you again."
Her father's hand closed over hers—steady, fierce reassurance. "Together, we'll bring him down."
The room seemed to contract, walls closing in with purpose. The battle lines were drawn—not just for revenge, but for survival.
Outside, the storm battered the windows, but inside, their resolve burned brighter than ever.