Chapter 37: The Crimson Circuit
Saturday arrived without ceremony.
Jaden woke at 6 AM to the red and gold glow of the Crimson Circuit branding through the curtains and lay still for exactly thirty seconds. Not counting. Not calculating. Just breathing, the way Dr. Kim had taught him in the psychological training sessions — the specific, deliberate breathing of someone choosing to be present rather than ahead of themselves.
Then he got up.
His phone had one notification. His father's reply, sent at 11:47 PM last night while Jaden was already asleep.
See you inside.
Three words back. Arthur Sterling, who communicated in verdicts and strategies and the careful architecture of power, had sent three words back.
Jaden read them once. Then he put his phone in his pocket and went to shower.
