The sun hadn't even fully risen when Veronica realized she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep.
The image of the shattered glass.
The footprints in the garden.
And most of all… the message.
"Next time… we won't miss."
It wouldn't leave her mind.
She sat on the bed, hugging her knees, staring at the floor as if trying to organize her thoughts.
But she couldn't.
Everything was moving too fast.
Too heavy.
And for the first time… truly dangerous.
A soft knock on the door made her look up.
"Come in," she said.
Leon opened the door.
He was already dressed, posture as firm as always, but there was something different about him.
Sharper.
More alert.
More serious.
"You didn't sleep," he said.
It wasn't a question.
Veronica let out a small sigh.
"Neither did you."
He stepped into the room slowly.
"We need to talk."
She nodded.
"I figured."
Leon closed the door behind him and walked closer, stopping a few steps away.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
It was as if both were trying to choose the right words… without knowing where to begin.
"That wasn't random," Leon said finally.
"I know."
"Someone came in here knowing exactly where they were going."
Veronica frowned.
"Do you think it was someone inside?"
Leon didn't answer right away.
And that alone was an answer.
"Are there enough staff here for that?" she asked.
"Few."
"And do you trust them?"
"I did."
Silence fell between them.
Veronica ran a hand through her hair.
"So besides someone out there trying to destroy you… now there might be someone in here helping them."
"It's a possibility."
"Great. That just keeps getting better."
Leon ignored the sarcasm.
"I already had the entire security system reviewed."
"And?"
"Cameras went offline for three minutes."
Her eyes lifted.
"Three minutes?"
"Long enough."
"That's not a coincidence."
"No."
Veronica stood up and started pacing.
"This was planned."
"Yes."
"And someone knew exactly how to get in."
Leon nodded.
"And out."
She stopped.
Turned to him.
"So what do we do now?"
He didn't hesitate.
"We find out who did it."
"How?"
Leon stepped a little closer.
"By going after them."
The answer was simple.
Direct.
But heavy with intent.
Veronica crossed her arms.
"You're serious?"
"Very."
"Isn't that dangerous?"
He let out a quiet breath.
"We're past that point."
She went silent for a second.
Then she realized.
"You've already started, haven't you?"
Leon didn't deny it.
"I'm analyzing the companies that pulled out of our contracts."
"And?"
"Some of them have indirect ties to the same group."
Veronica frowned.
"What group?"
Leon took out his phone and showed her.
Names.
Companies.
Cross-linked holdings.
"That's not a coincidence," she said.
"It isn't."
"Do you think this same person could be behind what happened to my family?"
Leon looked at her.
"I think this started long before you noticed."
A chill ran down her spine.
"So… this isn't about now."
"No."
"This goes back."
Leon nodded slowly.
"Much further."
The silence that followed felt different.
Heavier.
Deeper.
Like something bigger was starting to take shape.
"Leon…" she said quietly. "Are you hiding something from me?"
He stayed silent.
Long enough for the answer to be obvious.
"Leon."
"I'm not sure yet."
"But you have a suspicion."
He looked at her.
"I do."
"Then say it."
He took a breath.
"Your family and mine… have had issues before."
Veronica frowned.
"That doesn't make sense. My father never mentioned anything."
"Maybe because he didn't want to."
"Or because it doesn't exist."
Leon held her gaze.
"It does."
Her heart started beating faster.
"What kind of issues?"
He hesitated.
"Business."
"That's too vague."
"Because that's all I know for now."
Veronica stepped back slightly.
Trying to process it.
"So you show up out of nowhere, offer a marriage, save my family… and now you're telling me there might be something in the past between our families?"
"I didn't show up out of nowhere."
She looked up quickly.
"What do you mean?"
Leon realized what he had said.
But it was too late.
"Leon."
He stayed silent.
"You already knew me before all this?"
More silence.
Veronica took a step forward.
"Were you watching me?"
The question hung in the air.
Heavy.
Tense.
Leon ran a hand over his face, clearly weighing how much to reveal.
"I knew who you were."
"That's not an answer."
"I knew more than that."
Her stomach tightened.
"How much more?"
He looked directly at her.
"Enough."
Silence exploded between them.
"So you're telling me…" she struggled to find the words, "…that this might not have been a coincidence?"
"Part of it wasn't."
Veronica stepped back.
As if she needed space.
"So this marriage…"
"Was an opportunity."
"For what?"
He took a moment to answer.
"To resolve things that have been unresolved for a long time."
She let out a short laugh.
But there was no humor in it.
"You're joking."
"I'm not."
"You used my family's situation."
"I helped your family."
"In exchange for my life!"
Her voice rose.
Control slipping.
"In exchange for an agreement."
"For you!"
Leon stayed silent.
But didn't back down.
"I gave you a choice," he said.
"You didn't!"
The air felt too heavy now.
Hard to breathe.
Veronica ran a hand over her face.
Trying to calm herself.
"I thought…" she stopped. "I thought you were different."
Leon stepped closer.
"I am."
"Doesn't look like it."
Silence fell.
But this time… it was different.
Cold.
Distant.
"You can still walk away," he said.
The words were unexpected.
Veronica looked up.
"What?"
"If you want out of this… I won't stop you."
She stood there.
Speechless.
Because that wasn't what she expected to hear.
And strangely…
It hurt more than it should have.
"You think it's that simple?"
"No."
"Then why are you saying it?"
Leon held her gaze.
"Because now you know this is bigger than it seemed."
Her chest tightened.
"And you think I'll just leave?"
He didn't answer.
Because deep down… he didn't know.
Veronica took a deep breath.
It took her a few seconds.
"I'm not running."
Leon seemed slightly surprised.
"I'm already in this," she continued. "And if someone is behind all of this… I want to know who it is."
His expression shifted.
Something closer to respect.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"But no more lies this time."
Leon took a moment.
Then answered:
"No more lies."
Silence returned.
But now… different.
More aligned.
More dangerous.
Because in that moment…
They weren't just reacting anymore.
They were starting to hunt.
And someone…
Somewhere…
Probably had no idea what they had just awakened.