Chapter 94. The Weight of What Remains

They returned to Forge Tower not through the main entrance, but through the side corridor that once required retinal scans and Council clearance. It was quiet now. Decommissioned. Retired, like the old version of them both.

Two floors below the command suite, they entered a private lounge that had once been used for classified briefings. Now, it was stripped down—just soft seating, a low obsidian table, and a single glowing sphere lamp that cast long, warm shadows across the walls. No emblems. No surveillance. Just them.

Knox poured two glasses of Scotch from a bottle labeled simply Ledger Reserve. Likely once intended for executive celebration. Tonight, it was just the coda.

Harper lowered herself into the wide leather chair by the window, curling her legs to her chest. Her hair was slightly undone, her makeup faded, her presence still magnetic but now wholly her own. No polish left to impress—only the shine of something true.

Knox handed her t