IN HER BLOOD

Location: Venice – Rosalie's Hotel Room

Time: 1:12 a.m.

The encrypted folder blinked on the screen like it was alive Subject: A. Fontaine.

Amira stared at it. The ache in her chest was growing, turning into dread. Her palms were sweaty, and her voice shook when she finally said:

"Open it."

Rosalie hesitated. "We should wait. Maybe Zion...."

"No," Amira cut in. "If they're going to keep rewriting my life, I want to see the damn script."

Rosalie clicked.

The screen flickered.

And the file opened.

Folder Contents:

Birth Certificate – Amira Fontaine

Father: Classified

Mother: Estelle Fontaine

Sponsor ID: ZV-003

Carter Medical Records – Unnamed Dependent

1. Blood Marker Match: ZC Series

2. Notes: "Possible genetic overlap with subject Celeste F."

3. Code: "Secondary Beneficiary - Zion Variant"

Letter (Unsent) -From Dominic Vale to Zion Carter

"You should've told her the truth. She thinks she's Fontaine's daughter. But you and I know she's ours to protect or destroy. You kept her in the dark. Just like you did with Celeste."

Amira's heart dropped.

"What does this mean?" Rosalie whispered.

"It means," Amira said slowly, tears rising, "Zion knew something about me... something even my mother didn't tell me."

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number.

One line texted:

"Now you understand why you were never just the sister. You were the insurance."

Flashback – Amira, Age 9

She remembered standing in the Carter estate's courtyard during one of Celeste's "special retreats."

Zion had been there.

He'd looked at her strangely. Not like an adult to a child.

Like he recognized something in her.

Back then, she thought it was kindness.

Now? It felt like surveillance.

Back to Present – Amira's Thoughts

She wasn't just a curious woman asking the wrong questions.

She was designed to never ask them.

1:45 a.m. - Amira Calls Zion

He didn't pick up.

She tried again.

Voicemail.

Then: her phone lit up.

📩 ZION:

"Come home. I'll tell you everything. But not over the phone. Don't trust anyone else not even Rosalie."

Amira stared at the message.

Her hands were trembling again.

"Rosalie," she said slowly. "Did you ever wonder why you got the modeling deal so fast?"

Rosalie blinked. "What?"

"You signed with a Carter subsidiary."

"So?"

"So what did you trade for it?"

Meanwhile in Paris, Zion stared at the old portrait of Elira and Celeste that hung behind his desk.

Dominic's voice echoed in his head:

"She was a variable. You made her believe she was a sister. But we both know she was never part of the plan."

Zion whispered:

"She was the plan."

He poured another drink.

And waited for Amira to return.