Nova didn't sleep that night.
She lay in the giant, cold mansion bed, the silence pressing in harder than any noise ever could. Her phone sat face down on the nightstand. She hadn't answered Zane's texts. Or Jules's. Or Troy's.
She couldn't.
Because now she knew — everything was being watched.
Even them.
Even him.
By morning, she made her decision.
She didn't sneak out.
She marched to her stepfather's office — the forbidden room with the glass walls and the polished floors, guarded by two men in black suits.
They let her through without a word.
Inside, her stepfather sat behind the desk, a coffee in one hand, his expression unreadable. As always.
He looked up when she walked in.
"Nova."
She didn't sit.
"I want the truth."
He set his cup down.
And for once, didn't pretend to smile.
"You're being followed," he said calmly. "Because I took you in."
"I didn't ask you to," she snapped.
"I know."
"You could've warned me."
"I know that too."
Nova clenched her jaw. "Why?"
There was a long pause.
Then he leaned back in his chair. "Because your name is clean. Because you don't come from this world. And because enemies always target the person who doesn't know how to fight back."
Nova felt her stomach twist.
"I was just a girl."
"Yes," he said softly. "And that made you perfect bait."
She took a step back.
Not because she was afraid of him.
But because she finally understood:
He hadn't taken her in just to help.
He'd done it to protect himself.
"I'm not your shield," she whispered.
He nodded once. "I know that now."
Nova stared at him, eyes burning. "So what am I supposed to do? Go back to school like nothing happened? Go hide in this mansion forever?"
He didn't answer.
Because he knew — this was her choice now.
She left the room without another word.
And outside, her brothers stood waiting. Silent. Watching.
Nova didn't look at them.
But she said one thing as she passed:
"I'm not running. I'm not hiding. And I will find out who's watching me."