The minutes ticked by, slow and heavy.

I watched the digital clock on the wall.

3:15 AM.

3:30 AM.

Ethan finished the drafts and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.

“The emails are scheduled to send at seven,” he said.

“One hour before the meeting starts.”

“Daniel won’t have time to prepare a defense.”

“He will walk into the boardroom thinking he has won, only to face his own ruin.”

I looked down at Clara, who had rolled onto her side.

Her tiny hand was curled into a fist near her face.

“We are going to finish this,” Ethan whispered, almost to himself.

Suddenly, the quiet of the nursery was shattered.

The phone on the desk did not ring, but its screen flashed brightly in the darkness.

A text message appeared on the lock screen.

It was from an unknown number.

Ethan reached for the phone, his brow furrowing as he read the message.

I watched his face drain of what little color it had left.

“What is it?” I asked, stepping closer.

Ethan slowly turned the phone toward me.