Chapter 5 - The Glass FortressDr. Hart’s face didn't twist in guilt. Instead, a tragic, heartbreaking smile appeared on her lips.
"Tell him the truth, Vance," she said calmly, stepping away from the boat guard. "Tell him who paid your gambling debts ten years ago. Tell him why Apex gave you the principal position at his school—to keep your eyes on Ethan's son until his brain matured enough to finish the algorithm."
Vance’s hand trembled on the grip of his weapon. "I had no choice! They threatened my family!"
"We always have a choice," Dr. Hart said quietly. "Leo proved that yesterday when he gave up his dream to save a dying woman on the street."
Before Vance could pull the trigger, a red laser dot appeared on his chest. A silent high-frequency dart struck his neck, and he collapsed onto the wet tarmac.
From the shadows of the shipping containers stepped a man clad in a tailored charcoal suit, surrounded by a dozen armed mercenaries. He clapped slowly, his leather-gloved hands making a dull, ominous sound.
"Extremely moving, Dr. Hart," the man said, stepping into the dim light. His eyes were cold, metallic gray. "Ten years of hunting Ethan Vance's ghost, and it turns out the final piece of the puzzle was carried by a child with a hero complex."
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It was Victor Sterling—the billionaire founder of Apex BioTech.
"Hand over the boy, the drive, and the child, Elena," Sterling smirked. "Or none of you leave this dock alive."
