Chapter 51

• Melanie sat quietly in her office at BioCrest Headquarters, elbows resting on her desk as her eyes stayed fixed on the closed blinds covering the window. Sunlight poured through the slits, casting uneven patterns on the hardwood floor, but she didn’t see them. Her mind was far away—caught between memories and regret, decisions and doubts.
• It had been two days since she returned to Germany. Two long, quiet days. And even now, she could still feel the tension at home hanging in the air like heavy smoke.
• Mia had barely said a word to her since they got back. Her daughter avoided her gaze, kept her distance, and only spoke when absolutely necessary. Not a single “good morning,” not even a sleepy “goodnight.” Just silence. Cold, stinging silence.