The penthouse was bathed in the muted glow of twilight, the city outside a blur of lights and motion. Inside, the atmosphere was somber but steady, the air thick with unspoken tension. Malia sat cross-legged on the plush sofa, a tablet in her lap displaying a flurry of reports, legal documents, and press clippings. She hadn't looked up in an hour, her focus unyielding as she sifted through the chaos Evelyn had unleashed.
Nixus entered from the kitchen, carrying two steaming mugs of coffee. He set one down on the table beside her before sinking into the chair across from her.
"You need to rest," he said gently, his voice cutting through the quiet.
"I will," Malia replied without looking up, her tone clipped.
"When?"
"When this is over." She finally lifted her gaze, and Nixus saw the weariness etched into her face. Her eyes, usually so sharp and vibrant, looked dull, shadows pooling beneath them.