The news did not make sense at first. Lucien read the headline again, then looked at Seraphina as if expecting her to correct it.
"Adrian acquired Sterling," he said.
Seraphina did not respond immediately. Her eyes remained on the screen, scanning the details beneath the headline. There was something wrong with the timing.
Lucien stepped closer. "We finalized the agreement," he said. "There is no gap for him to enter."
Seraphina shook her head slowly. "There is always a gap," she said.
Lucien frowned. "Explain."
Seraphina tapped her screen and pulled up the acquisition timeline. The timestamps appeared side by side. "Our offer was accepted at 18:42," she said.
Lucien nodded. "Yes."
Seraphina zoomed in on the new report. "His acquisition was executed at 18:39," she said.
Lucien's expression hardened. "He moved three minutes earlier."
Seraphina nodded. "Yes."
Lucien's jaw tightened. "That is not a reaction," he said.
Seraphina met his gaze. "No, it is not."
