Then let's stop him

The next few days were a blur of activity, both within the mansion and in the world outside. Victor, along with his tech team, continued to sift through Marco's encrypted files. The deeper they dug into the contents of 'Project Paragon,' the more disturbing the revelations became. And Mia could feel the weight of those discoveries pressing down on her, suffocating her every waking moment.

Though Alexander had insisted she stay in the mansion and rest, Mia couldn't sit idle. Every fiber of her being was telling her that something was wrong, that whatever Marco had planned was already in motion, and that she was the center of it all.

She had to know the truth.

One evening, after a tense round of discussions with Victor and the team, Mia walked into the study, determination set on her face. Alexander, who had been working late, looked up in surprise.

"Mia," he began, his voice soft but firm. "What are you doing up? You should be resting."

"I can't rest, Alexander," she replied, her voice low and urgent. "I need to know everything. I can't stand sitting here, waiting for the worst. Marco's plans—his obsession with me—there's more to it, and I can't let it control me."

He stood up, walking toward her with a mixture of concern and admiration. "I know you're scared, but we'll find out everything we can. I promise you, you're not alone in this."

Mia smiled faintly, her gaze locking with his. "I know that. But this isn't just about us anymore. I need to understand why Marco fixated on me. Why he said it's 'in my blood.'"

Her words hung in the air, heavy and pregnant with the unspoken truth.

"I'll help you find the answers," Alexander said, his tone unwavering. "Together."

The room fell into a brief silence, the weight of their shared mission settling over them. Mia knew that whatever was coming, it wouldn't be easy. But with Alexander by her side, she felt like she could face anything.

---

The following day, Victor arranged a private meeting with Mia and Alexander. The tech team had made a breakthrough.

Sitting at the head of the table, Victor activated a projector, and the large screen in front of them flickered to life. A set of old, crumpled documents appeared, some faded with age, others marked with official-looking seals.

"These are the original files from Project Paragon," Victor explained. "It's older than we thought. Much older. Marco didn't just come up with this idea recently—he's been planning this for decades."

Mia leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "What exactly is it? What does 'Paragon' mean?"

Victor clicked through the documents. "It started as a research project, back in the late 1980s. A group of scientists, some of the most brilliant minds in the world, were tasked with experimenting on genetics—specifically, the bloodlines of certain families. The goal was to create a perfect genetic specimen, someone who could lead the world into a new era of power. It wasn't just about cloning or DNA manipulation. It was about finding someone who had the right balance of physical, mental, and emotional attributes. They wanted to create a leader."

Alexander's expression darkened. "And Marco… he was involved in this?"

Victor nodded grimly. "Yes. He wasn't just some low-level player. He was one of the key investors and the primary backer of the project. But as time went on, the project became more corrupt. The idea of 'perfection' was twisted, and the experiments became more dangerous. The goal was no longer to create a leader. It became about controlling people, creating an army of perfect individuals, each capable of bending the world to their will."

Mia's breath hitched in her throat. "And this is what Marco was after? To use me for this?"

Victor nodded again. "It seems that way. Your family, Mia… there's something about your bloodline. Something that ties you to the original research. That's why Marco was so obsessed with you. He knew that you were the key to unlocking the full potential of the project."

Mia's head spun as the realization hit her like a cold wave. "My bloodline… my family… But how could he know?"

Victor hesitated. "The research team kept detailed records of the families involved in the experiments. You're one of them, Mia. The truth is, your family has been part of this from the very beginning. And somehow, Marco knew that you were the missing piece—the one person who could complete 'Project Paragon'."

The room went still as the weight of the truth hung heavily in the air.

Alexander's jaw clenched. "This isn't just about revenge, is it? Marco wants Mia's blood for something much darker."

Mia turned to him, her voice trembling slightly. "So what does this mean for me? What is 'Paragon' really?"

Victor stared at the screen, the documents flashing on the screen in a blur. "It's not just a project. It's a legacy, a new world order. And Mia, you're central to that order. They believed you were the 'perfect subject.' Your family line, the traits they sought—everything pointed to you. You've been marked as the ultimate piece of the puzzle."

Mia felt the world spinning around her. Everything she had ever known about her family, about her life, suddenly seemed like a lie. Her bloodline—something she had never thought twice about—was now the very thing that made her the target of Marco's twisted ambitions.

She looked at Alexander, the man who had stood by her through everything, and felt the overwhelming weight of what she was being asked to bear. "I can't do this, Alexander. I can't be a part of this—whatever it is. I'm not the key to some sick experiment. I'm just… me."

Alexander reached out, his hand brushing hers. "You are you, Mia. That's what makes you special. You're not a project. You're not some pawn. You're my wife, and together, we'll stop Marco and anyone else who tries to use you."

Mia's eyes filled with tears, but she nodded, determination rising within her. "Then let's stop him. Once and for all."

---

The team quickly went to work, gathering information, investigating every angle of the Project Paragon files, and connecting the dots between Mia's bloodline, Marco's plans, and the people who had enabled him. Mia didn't have all the answers, but with Alexander's support and the team's resources, they would uncover the truth and put an end to Marco's twisted vision of the future.

As they moved forward, Mia knew one thing for sure: whatever the truth was, it was something she would face head-on. And no matter what it took, she would fight to protect the future she had built with Alexander—and the family they were about to grow together.