What do we do

The morning sun cast golden rays over the estate, but the warmth did little to ease the tension that hung in the air. Mia stood by the window, gazing at the sprawling gardens, her hand resting on her belly. The flutter she had felt last night had been real. Their baby was growing, a tangible reminder of everything she was fighting for.

Behind her, Alexander was on the phone with Victor, his voice low but urgent.

"Are you sure?" Alexander asked. He listened intently, his jaw tightening. "Alright. Send me everything you've got. We'll be ready."

Mia turned as he ended the call, her heart already bracing for bad news. "What is it?"

Alexander exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand down his face. "Victor found a name. Someone higher up in the Paragon operation. A man named Silas Voss."

Mia frowned. "I've never heard of him."

"You wouldn't have," Alexander said grimly. "He operates in the shadows. A billionaire philanthropist on the surface, but behind the scenes, he's been funding genetic research for years. And according to Victor, he was Marco's real backer."

A chill ran down Mia's spine. "So Marco wasn't even the mastermind?"

"No," Alexander confirmed. "Marco was just one of his many pawns. And now that Marco's gone, Silas won't just let his plans die."

Mia swallowed hard. It was a never-ending cycle. Every time they thought they were close to an end, a bigger monster emerged. "What do we do?"

"We find him," Alexander said. "Victor traced his current location to a private island off the Mediterranean. That's where we'll start."

Mia's instinct was to protest—to insist she come along—but she knew Alexander wouldn't allow it, not with the baby. Instead, she focused on what she could do.

"I want to help from here," she said. "There has to be something I can do."

Alexander hesitated, then nodded. "Victor will need someone to sift through intel while we're in the field. If you're up for it…"

Mia's determination solidified. "I am."

---

Meanwhile…

In a sleek, high-rise office overlooking a dazzling cityscape, Silas Voss leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled together. The news of Marco's failure had not surprised him. He had long anticipated it.

A woman in a sharp black suit stood before him, waiting for his command.

"The program was always meant to outlive its creators," Silas mused. "Marco was… a necessary sacrifice."

The woman nodded. "Dr. King is in custody. Should we extract her?"

Silas smirked. "No need. The real work has already begun. She was just a scientist. I have others."

He turned his chair to face the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Paragon is inevitable. And soon, Alexander and Mia will realize they've only delayed the future, not stopped it."

His eyes glinted with amusement. "Let them come. They'll only be walking into my hands."