The room was dark.
Not because there was no light,because whoever occupied it preferred shadows.
Three men stood silently before a screen that remained black.
No image.
No identity.
Only a voice.
A voice none of them had ever attached to a face.
A voice that had controlled operations for years without ever being seen.
A thick silence hung in the room.
Then,
"Report." The voice demanded.
The single word cut through the air.
One of the men stepped forward.
"Subject remains stable."
Silence.
"The father?"
"No recovery. No change in financial status. No external support."
Another silence.
"He should have broken by now."
The statement wasn't a question.
It was an observation.
The men exchanged brief glances.
One finally spoke.
"There is something unusual."
The room became still.
The voice responded.
"Explain."
The man swallowed.
"The girl."
Silence.
"What about her?" The voice asked.
"She continues adapting."
A pause.
"Academically."
"Socially."
"Emotionally."
The man lowered his eyes.
"Beyond projected expectations."
The room suddenly felt colder.
A second man spoke carefully.
"Perhaps we should consider permanent correction."
The first man looked at him immediately.
The third remained silent.
Nobody wanted to be the first person to suggest it, but now it had been said.
The voice remained quiet.
Dangerously quiet.
The second man continued.
"If she becomes what we think she might become..."
He hesitated.
"...then elimination now would be easier than containment later."
Silence.
Complete silence.
One second.
Two…
Three….
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed loudly.
Then the voice spoke.
Calm…. Too calm.
"Are you afraid of a child?"
The man immediately lowered his head.
"No, sir."
"Then why are you discussing elimination?"
Nobody answered.
The voice continued.
"Observe."
"Do not interfere."
"Do not engage."
A pause.
Then:
"Not yet."
The words settled heavily , because somehow...
That sounded worse.
The third man finally gathered courage.
"And if she continues growing beyond expectations?"
The answer came immediately.
Cold….. controlled….terrifying.
"Then we will decide whether the father was the mistake..."
A pause.
"...or the daughter."
Nobody spoke again.
The transmission ended.
The screen went black.
Yet none of the men moved because somehow...
The room felt even darker after the voice was gone.
Far away from hidden rooms and dangerous conversations...
Elena Parker was completely unaware anyone had just debated her future.
Morning sunlight stretched across the Harrington Estate.
John Parker slowed his newspaper cab near the staff entrance.
The old vehicle rattled slightly before coming to a stop.
Elena stepped down.
John smiled.
"Have a good day, Little Star."
Elena smiled back.
"You too, Dad."
He gently tapped her forehead.
A habit he had never abandoned.
Then he drove away.
Inside the estate grounds...
Rosa Parker spotted her daughter immediately.
"There you are, Little Star."
Elena laughed softly as Rosa pulled her into a quick embrace.
"I've been looking for you."
"I just got here."
"Good."
Rosa adjusted her sleeve.
"Stay close today."
Unknown to them...
From the second-floor study window...
Richard Harrington had watched the entire exchange.
His gaze lingered on the departing newspaper cab longer than necessary.
Not on Elena.
Not on Rosa.
On John.
The vehicle disappeared through the estate gates.
Only then did Richard look away.
Moments later...
A maid hurried down the corridor.
Her expression carried unusual urgency.
"Rosa."
Rosa turned.
"Yes?"
The maid lowered her voice.
"Mr. Harrington wishes to see you."
Rosa blinked.
"Me?"
"Immediately."
The smile vanished from her face.
Not because she was guilty,because everyone in the Harrington household understood one thing:
Richard Harrington rarely summoned people to his private study.
And when he did...
It was never for something ordinary.
Rosa slowly looked toward the staircase leading upstairs.
A strange uneasiness settled in her chest,because after twelve years of loyal service...
This would be the first time Richard Harrington had ever called for her personally…..and she had absolutely no idea why.
The maid shifted nervously before adding,
"And your daughter."
The words landed heavily.
Elena immediately looked up.
"Me?" she blurted out.
Her eyes widened.
"Why me?"
The question came too quickly.
"Have I done something wrong?"
Rosa turned toward her daughter instantly.
"Elena..." But Elena was already thinking through every possible mistake she could have made since arriving at the estate.
Had she spoken out of turn?
Broken something?
Entered somewhere she shouldn't have?
Her heart suddenly felt louder.
Rosa looked back at the maid.
"Ramona..."
Her voice carried a calmness she didn't entirely feel.
"Is there a problem?"
Ramona swallowed.
"I don't know, ma'am."
The answer came honestly.
"He only instructed that both of you come immediately."
The maid lowered her eyes briefly.
"And... he seemed serious."
That did not help.
Not at all.
A strange silence followed.
Even Elena could feel it.
Ramona stepped back.
"Please forgive me, ma'am. I should return."
She hesitated briefly before adding,
"Mr. Harrington is waiting."
Then she hurried away.
Leaving Rosa and Elena standing there.
Neither spoke immediately.
Elena slowly turned toward her mother.
"Mom..."
Rosa forced a small reassuring smile.
"I'm sure everything is fine."
But even she wasn't convinced by her own words, because after twelve years of serving the Harrington family...
Richard Harrington had never once called for her.
Not like this.
Not personally….and definitely not with Elena included.
A cold uneasiness settled inside her chest.
Upstairs...
Beyond the long corridor...
Beyond the closed wooden doors of the private study...
Richard Harrington was waiting…. And neither Rosa nor Elena knew what awaited them inside.