"This is insane," Liam whispered. He looked at his dad and then at Azalea. "Those girls are innocent. Even if their dad did something wrong, why should we punish them? They aren’t responsible for their parents’ choices."

"That’s what I’ve been trying to get him to see," Azalea said, pointing at Charles.

Liam’s voice trembled. "I love her."

The room fell silent.

"What?" Charles spun around quickly.

"Ayla. I love her." Liam’s eyes were filled with tears. "I’ve loved her for three years. She’s funny, kind, and really brave. She has an amazing ability to see the good in people, even when they don’t deserve it. She saw the good in me."

His voice cracked.

"And I walked away from her this morning. I left her a note telling her not to come looking for me. I broke her heart because you told me to. I thought I was doing the right thing, just following orders, serving some bigger purpose."

Tears streamed down his face now.

"But there’s no bigger purpose, is there? Just you, seeking revenge against a dead man who probably never even betrayed you."

Charles looked pale. "Liam—"

"I left the woman I love for this." Liam waved angrily around the room. "For lies and paranoia and a mission that never should have existed."

He turned and headed for the door, trembling.

"Where are you going?" Charles called after him.

Liam didn’t look back. "I’m getting away from here. Away from you. I need some time to think."

"Liam, hold on,"

But Liam was already gone, the door slamming shut behind him.

Azalea and Charles were left alone in the room.

For a long moment, they didn’t say anything.

Finally, Azalea broke the silence, her voice sharp. "Are you happy now?"

Charles didn’t answer.

"He loves her, Charles. Can’t you see that? Your son, the kid you claim you did everything to protect, fell in love. And you made him destroy it."

"He’ll get over it," Charles replied, though he didn’t sound convinced.

Azalea laughed bitterly. "Get over it? Charles, that kid just walked out of here like his world ended. Again. Because of you. Always because of you."

"He’s tough," Charles said.

"He’s a mess!" Azalea’s voice grew louder. "You messed him up when you pretended to die, and now you’ve messed him up again by making him give up the one person who actually made him happy."

Charles turned away from her. "Love is a weakness. It makes you easy to hurt. It makes you, "

"Human?" Azalea interrupted. "It makes you human, Charles, something you seem to have forgotten how to be."

"I’m doing what’s necessary," he shot back.

"For whom? For what reason?" Azalea moved in front of him, forcing him to look at her. "Let’s say you’re right. Let’s say Marcus did betray you. He’s dead, Charles. He’s been dead for five years. His wife has been gone even longer. The only ones left are two innocent girls who don’t even know the truth about their parents."

She grasped his shoulders.

"Why? Why are you still doing this? Why are you punishing them? Why are you punishing your own son?"

Charles’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond.

"He loves Ayla," Azalea said, her voice softening. "He left her this morning and came here just like you told him to. He did what you asked, gave up his own happiness, all for a mission based on revenge and shaky evidence."

She released him and stepped back.

"And the worst part? He can’t forget her. He won’t. I’ve seen how he talks about her when he thinks nobody is listening. I’ve watched him look at her photos like they’re the only thing keeping him going."

Charles’s hands were shaking now. "Drop it. I don’t care how he feels. He’ll get over it. I know him; he’s strong."

"You’re impossible." Azalea’s voice was filled with disgust. "You’re so wrapped up in your own pain and need for revenge that you can’t see you’re ruining the one person who actually matters to you."

"I told you to drop it," he repeated.

"No." Azalea’s eyes flashed. "Because someone has to tell you the truth, Charles. You’re not protecting your son. You’re not serving justice. You’re just a bitter, paranoid man who can’t face the fact that you might have messed up." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

She walked over to the door.

"And you know what’s really tragic? Liam came here today thinking he’d find his dad, the guy who raised him, cared for him, and who he believed had died twelve years ago."

Azalea paused at the door and glanced back at him.

"Instead, he found a stranger who is ready to throw his son’s happiness away for revenge that might not even be justified. Congrats, Charles. You got your son back, and you’ve already lost him again."

She stepped outside, and the door clicked shut behind her.

Charles stood alone in the room, surrounded by screens, files, and evidence that suddenly felt pointless.

On one screen, security footage showed Liam in the hallway outside, leaning against the wall with his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

Charles watched his son break down, and for the first time in twelve years, he began to wonder if Azalea was right.

Had he spent so much time chasing after ghosts that he had become one himself?

On another screen, a photo of Ayla beamed at the camera, bright, beautiful, and completely unaware of the trouble headed her way.

Charles closed his eyes.

What have I done?

But it was too late for regrets.

Things were already set in motion.

Tonight, Alpha and Maksim were going to hit the tower.

Tonight, everything would change.

And somewhere in the city, Liam was walking alone through the streets, tears streaming down his face, a broken young man caught between loyalty to a father who had let him down and love for a woman he’d been ordered to destroy.

The ghost had many faces.

And none of them were innocent.