Chapter 26

John carefully checked on Stephanie to confirm that she was indeed fast asleep. He approached her, gently lifting her face and testing the slackness of her hand.

"Perfect," he muttered, a small smile creeping onto his face. As he looked at Stephanie, now vulnerable in her slumber, he couldn't help but imagine her as the same woman who had been so aggressive and insulting towards him. The thought crossed his mind that he could end it all right then and there, but he quickly pushed the notion aside.

Turning away from Stephanie, John hurried to the vault and removed the Monalisa frame from the wall. He stared at the vault, his mind racing as he tried to decipher what the pin might be. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he grappled with the pressure of the situation.

"What the fuck is the pin?!" John muttered to himself, frustration evident in his voice as he paced around, his fingers digging into his head in frustration. He had exhausted every possible combination he could think of, includin