Chapter 128: A Fragile Resolve

The weight of the battle against Evelyn pressed down on Malia like a leaden sky, heavy and suffocating. She sat at her desk, surrounded by stacks of papers, files, and notes that detailed every move Evelyn had made and every counterstrike she and Nixus had planned. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the desk lamp, but the silence felt oppressive.

For the first time since the fight began, Malia felt the cracks forming in her resolve.

She ran her hands through her hair, which had grown messy from hours of frustration. Her once steady confidence was now a faint glimmer, buried beneath exhaustion, fear, and doubt. Her mind replayed every threat Evelyn had made, every risk she'd taken to protect her family and business. The stakes felt insurmountable, and the more she thought about it, the more she questioned if this fight was even worth it.