Subject: Mia Kingston

The air in the estate's command center was thick with tension as Victor worked tirelessly to decrypt Marco's files. Every keystroke echoed through the room as Alexander stood protectively behind Mia, his arms crossed, his patience wearing thin.

Mia sat beside Victor, her hands gripping the edges of the table. Her name had been at the top of Marco's Project Paragon files. But why? What did Marco mean when he said she didn't know the truth about herself?

"I've almost got it," Victor muttered. A progress bar on the screen inched forward.

Alexander exhaled sharply. "It better be good."

The moment the decryption completed, a new set of files appeared. Victor clicked on the first document, and a series of images filled the screen. They were DNA sequences—Mia's DNA.

Mia felt her stomach twist. "What am I looking at?"

Victor's face was unreadable as he scanned the data. "This isn't just a standard genetic profile… Marco was running advanced simulations using your DNA. He was searching for something."

Alexander's jaw clenched. "Searching for what?"

Victor hesitated, then clicked on a highlighted section. A detailed analysis of genetic markers appeared. Next to them were several notes—written in Marco's unmistakable handwriting.

Subject: Mia Kingston

Genetic anomalies detected. Deviations consistent with enhanced resilience. Potential accelerated healing properties.

Mia's breath caught in her throat. "What? That… that doesn't make sense."

Alexander's eyes darkened. "Are you saying Marco believed Mia had some kind of enhanced biology?"

Victor tapped the screen, pulling up another file. "It's more than that. Marco wasn't just studying her—he was replicating her DNA."

Mia's head spun. "Replicating it? Why?"

Victor scrolled further. "Because he believed you were special, Mia. Not just because of Alexander, but because of something in your genetic makeup. Project Paragon wasn't about creating an army. It was about you."

Silence fell over the room.

Alexander was the first to break it. "You're saying Marco thought Mia was… different?"

Victor nodded. "Not just different. Unique."

Mia's pulse pounded in her ears. This couldn't be real. She was just Mia—a regular woman. Wasn't she?

She turned to Alexander, searching for reassurance, but his expression was unreadable. His mind was working just as fast as hers, trying to piece it all together.

Victor clicked on the final file. A grainy video loaded, and Marco's voice filled the room once more.

"You always thought you were just another piece on the board, Mia. But the truth is, you are the board. Everything revolves around you, whether you like it or not. The question is—will you embrace it? Or will you run from it?"

The video ended abruptly.

Mia felt lightheaded. Nothing made sense.

Alexander pulled her into his arms. "We'll figure this out," he promised.