Clara sat alone in her apartment, lights dimmed, fingers trembling slightly as she held her private phone. She had been staring at the secure call request flashing on screen for five full minutes.
Finally, she accepted.
A smooth male voice came through — gentle, almost musical.
"Clara. You sound tense. Did something go wrong?"
Clara straightened, her voice carefully steady. "The warning was delivered. Sara was shaken, but… Daniel appeared before anything serious happened."
The man chuckled lightly.
"Ah, Daniel. Loyal as always. A knight protecting his beloved queen. How poetic."
His tone was light, but every word carried an invisible blade.
Clara swallowed. "If they become more vigilant, it will be harder to—"
"Clara."
The voice softened further — affectionate, yet heavy.
"You're not losing your resolve, are you?"
She closed her eyes. "No. I will finish what I started."
"Good girl."
Her stomach twisted. Was that praise or warning?
"You've played the quiet snake well. But it's time for the venom. I want Sara to lose trust. Not just safety. Do something that breaks her spirit."
Clara hesitated. "…She thinks of me as family."
"All the more reason," he whispered warmly."Betrayals hurt most when they come wrapped in love."
The line clicked dead.
Clara's hands shook — just for a moment — before she forced them still.
Meanwhile — In Daniel's Surveillance Room
"Signal linked," Leo confirmed. "We traced the call to an encrypted relay in Switzerland. Heavy masking. Whoever this guy is — he's skilled."
Daniel stared at the visuals — Clara sitting alone, face strained. He saw guilt. But also submission.
"She's scared," Leo muttered. "Why is she doing this?"
Daniel's voice was calm.
"Because someone is smiling while holding her by the throat."
Leo leaned back. "So what's the play?"
Daniel's gaze hardened.
"We let her think she's still ahead. And we bait the real puppet master out of his cage."
Later — At Sara's Penthouse
Sara sipped her tea quietly when Daniel entered. She looked composed, but her voice was firm.
"Trap is ready?"
Daniel nodded. "Leo has planted a false data file in the system. A fake blueprint about the foundation's future expansion. If Clara passes it on — we'll know instantly."
Sara set down her cup. "And when she does?"
Daniel looked at her.
"That's when we close the net."
Chapter Summary
Clara receives new orders from the mastermind, who is charming, calm, and terrifying through subtlety.
He demands not just sabotage — but emotional destruction, urging Clara to betray Sara in a way that breaks trust.
Daniel and Leo listen to the entire call, confirming Clara is working under threat — or manipulation.
They set a trap by planting fake data in the company system — to test whether Clara will take the bait.
Sara fully steps into battle mode, ready to expose betrayal… even if it hurts.