The marina slowly emptied.
The wind carried the smell of salt and the distant sound of waves crashing against the sea wall.
But the tension between Daevyd and his father remained.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
Shemmy stood beside Daevyd, watching carefully.
Something deeper than anger lived in his eyes.
Years of it.
Finally Daevyd broke the silence.
"You should leave."
His father sighed.
"I expected that reaction."
"You don't get to appear after fifteen years and start giving warnings."
"I'm not giving warnings."
"Then what are you doing?"
His father looked toward the dark water.
"I'm trying to stop you from walking into a war you don't understand."
Daevyd let out a dry laugh.
"War?"
"You think this is about Tunde?"
"It is."
"No," the older man said quietly.
"Tunde was just the noise."
Shemmy felt a chill run through her.
"What do you mean?"
The older man turned toward her.
"You must be Shemmy."
"Yes."
He studied her for a moment.
"So you're the reason my son is suddenly making reckless decisions."
Daevyd stepped forward.
"Leave her out of this."
His father raised his hands calmly.
"Relax. I'm not attacking her."
He looked back at Shemmy.
"But you should know something."
"Know what?"
"You're standing next to a man who has accidentally attracted the attention of some very powerful people."
Daevyd's voice hardened.
"Stop talking in riddles."
The older man sighed.
"Fine."
He walked closer.
"Three days ago a private investment group tried to buy a controlling stake in TechWave."
"I rejected them."
"I know."
Shemmy looked between them.
"So what?"
"So they don't like hearing no."
Daevyd crossed his arms.
"That still doesn't explain the hack."
His father nodded slowly.
"The hack was not meant to destroy your company."
"Then what was it meant to do?"
"Test your defenses."
Silence fell again.
Because the implication was obvious.
Someone had been studying TechWave.
Watching.
Waiting.
Shemmy's stomach tightened.
"Who would do that?"
The older man's expression turned serious.
"People who plan several moves ahead."
Daevyd shook his head.
"You're exaggerating."
"No."
"I've seen this before."
"Where?"
His father looked at him.
"In places where companies disappear overnight."
The wind picked up across the marina.
For the first time Daevyd looked uncertain.
But he still refused to show it.
"If this group is so powerful, why haven't they just taken TechWave?"
His father smiled faintly.
"Because they're patient."
"And because you're still useful."
"Useful for what?"
"Growth."
Daevyd frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"They want TechWave to become bigger."
Shemmy blinked.
"That makes no sense."
"Of course it does," the older man said calmly.
"When the company becomes large enough…"
He paused.
"…it becomes worth stealing."
The words landed heavily.
For a moment no one spoke.
Then Daevyd shook his head.
"You're guessing."
His father smiled again.
"Am I?"
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a folder.
Then handed it to Daevyd.
"Look at the names."
Daevyd opened it slowly.
His expression changed instantly.
"What is it?" Shemmy asked.
He flipped through the pages.
Investor profiles.
Acquisition attempts.
Shell companies.
All connected to one financial network.
One name repeated across every page.
Astra Consortium.
Shemmy leaned closer.
"Who are they?"
Daevyd's father answered.
"People who never lose."
Daevyd closed the folder slowly.
"So they attacked TechWave."
"Not yet."
"They're preparing."
"For what?"
"To buy your company the moment you're weak enough to sell."
Daevyd looked up.
"I will never sell."
His father smiled faintly.
"They're counting on that."
Shemmy's mind raced.
"So the hack… the pressure… the chaos…"
"It's all designed to push you toward one moment."
"What moment?"
"Collapse."
The word hung in the air.
Daevyd looked toward the city lights.
"Then they're going to be disappointed."
His father watched him carefully.
"I hope so."
There was a long silence.
Finally Daevyd spoke again.
"Why are you helping me?"
His father looked tired for the first time.
"Because despite everything…"
"…you're still my son."
Daevyd didn't respond.
Instead he turned toward Shemmy.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded slowly.
"I think so."
But the truth was more complicated.
Because suddenly the problems around them felt much bigger.
Tunde.
Nadia.
The sabotage.
All of it now looked like smaller pieces of a much larger game.
His father stepped back toward his car.
"I've said what I needed to say."
"You're leaving?"
"For now."
He opened the door.
Then paused.
"One more thing."
Daevyd looked up.
"If Astra is really moving against TechWave…"
"…tonight was just the opening move."
He got into the car.
The engine started.
Within seconds the vehicle disappeared into the Lagos night.
The marina became quiet again.
Shemmy turned toward Daevyd.
"This is getting bigger."
He nodded slowly.
"Yes."
She reached for his hand.
"What do we do now?"
Daevyd looked out at the city skyline.
The lights of Lagos stretched endlessly into the distance.
"We build faster."
He squeezed her hand.
"Before they make their next move."
But somewhere in the city…
Inside a dark office overlooking the water…
A group of investors watched the marina security footage.
One of them leaned back in his chair.
"So that's him."
Another man nodded.
"Yes."
"And the girl?"
"Unexpected variable."
The first man smiled slightly.
"Remove the variable."
He closed the file in front of him.
"Then we take TechWave."
And just like that…
Shemmy had become the next target.