Chapter 219: Behind Closed Doors

Ethan paced his office, unable to focus on anything else. Chris and Skylar had been in the Oval Office for nearly an hour. The tension in the White House was suffocating.

He had tried to drown himself in work, hacking into Russia's remaining intelligence systems and tracking down any remnants of resistance—but it didn't help.

Because in the back of his mind, all he could think about was the argument happening behind those doors.

He pulled up the live security feed from inside the Oval Office—not the official government one, but the hidden surveillance system he had installed long ago.

Chris didn't know about it. No one did.

Ethan hesitated for a moment. Was he really going to spy on Chris?

Then he clicked the audio feed.

Immediately, voices filled the room.

"You think I'm betraying you?" Skylar's voice—sharp, defensive.

"I think you're keeping secrets from me," Chris replied, his tone unreadable.

"And what if I am?"

Silence.

Then, Chris spoke again, softer this time. "Then I need to know why."

Ethan frowned, listening closely.

"I met with Ava because she's right," Skylar admitted.

Ethan's breath caught.

"Right about what?" Chris's voice was dangerously low now.

Skylar hesitated. "About what you've become."

A cold silence stretched between them.

Ethan's grip tightened on the edge of his desk.

Skylar was going to get herself killed.