Three days had passed, and each one felt like walking a tightrope. Thankfully, there had been no attacks—no sudden moves from Anton or the Great Families.
Yet each morning, as Ethan woke, a quiet dread settled in. Mr. Halen's silence about the Ascendants only made him more restless.
He couldn't shake the sense that something was coming, just out of sight.
Ethan stood by his office window, staring at the city without seeing it. Jessica's voice interrupted his thoughts as she finished her daily report.
"Ethan," she said, watching him closely. She had noticed the tension he carried, how distracted he'd been the last few days. "You're not really here, are you? What's going on?"
Ethan turned from the window, offering a small, tired smile. "Just waiting," he said, his voice lacking energy. "Still no word from Mr. Halen. I keep expecting something to happen."
