“Mr. Lancaster, the number you asked us to trace is privately protected. It may take at least a week to identify its source.”After hearing that from the person he had hired to trace the number, Xavier ended the call with a quiet sigh. He glanced at the message on his phone and studied the unfamiliar number for several seconds.It was the same number that had sent him the photograph of himself and Marcus outside the bar. He had already tried tracing it through the available records, but the number had been routed through several temporary accounts before reaching his phone, making it difficult to identify who was behind it.Whoever was behind it had taken so many precautions.Xavier opened the message again.‘I know what you're doing.’He didn't respond.Instead, he forwarded the number to someone who could investigate it and placed the phone back on the table.If the sender wanted his attention, they had already succeeded.The question was what they wanted from him.A few hours later

“So tell me, Xavier, how did you know to start preparing before they reached this date?”Xavier remained seated, his eyes fixed on the timeline displayed on Elena's laptop. He had expected Genesis to be involved, but seeing the exact date written in their confidential files made the situation far more serious than he had anticipated.No matter how many times he thought about it, he still couldn't bring himself to tell Elena that he had already lived through it.He couldn't tell her that he had watched cities fall, witnessed millions of people die, and spent months fighting to stay alive before Selene ultimately killed him.Instead, Xavier leaned back in his chair and carefully chose his words.“I didn't know the exact date,” he admitted. “I only knew that something was coming, I've my own ways to know what is going to happen, and I wasn't willing to wait until everyone else realized the danger.”Elena studied him for several seconds and she can clearly see that he is hiding something

“Before we discuss anything further, tell me one thing, Daisy. Are you actually interested in the business, or are you only here because you enjoy watching Selene lose control?”Daisy gave Xavier an amused glance from across the table before answering, “I can admit that watching Selene struggle has been entertaining, but I'm not going to put money into something just because it makes her uncomfortable.” Xavier accepted the answer without much reaction and opened the folder he had brought with him. “Then let's keep this strictly about business.”She leaned slightly forward as he placed several documents on the table. “You called me here to discuss a new investment, so I'm assuming you already have something prepared.”“I do,” he confirmed while opening the first document. “I'm planning to establish a private disaster-preparedness company for wealthy clients.”Daisy studied the proposal before questioning him, “Disaster preparedness?”“The company would provide long-term emergency solu

George had barely finished his dinner when Xavier's call came through. He glanced at Selene before stepping away from the television and answering, trying to keep his voice calm despite the unexpected call.“Hello?”“Hello, George. By any chance, did I catch you at a bad time?”“Is there something you need? Is that why you're contacting me at this hour?” George questioned, pretending he had no idea why Xavier would be calling him.“No worries, I just wanted to thank you, George,” Xavier responded in a calm and almost pleasant tone.George paused as he tried to understand what he meant. “Thank me? I'm afraid I don't understand what you're talking about.”Xavier leaned back in his chair while looking at the photograph displayed on his laptop. “Do you really think I don't know who leaked those photographs?”George's face became tense, but he quickly recovered and continued pretending to be confused. “What photographs are you talking about? I haven't leaked anything.”Xavier gave a quiet

“Is she sure this place isn't just an abandoned building, but actually a facility being used by Genesis?” Xavier murmured as he watched the building connected to Genesis Bioengineering Group from across the road.He already knew the location. He had been here only recently to meet the black-market supplier, so there was no reason for him to ask anyone where the facility was. During that meeting, he had also noticed the strict security around the building and the restricted areas below the main floors, but he had never expected Genesis to be protecting the facility for something particularly important. Without Elena's discovery, he would have considered it nothing more than an ordinary building.Xavier adjusted the cap covering most of his hair and checked the maintenance uniform he was wearing along with a mask. The fake employee card clipped to his shirt looked convincing enough from a distance, while the toolbox in his hand completed the appearance of a maintenance worker.He had no