Jasmine's POV
The room was chaos. Screens flickered in red, alarms pierced through the glass walls, and the low hum of servers filled the silence that followed Ares' words.
"You're not the same Jasmine… but not enough to deceive me."
The line hung between us like a blade.
No one in the control room dared to breathe.
My pulse thudded painfully in my ears.
Ares' eyes were still locked on mine… unreadable, sharp, accusing. For a second, I wanted to speak, to defend myself, to remind him who I was. But my throat refused to move.
Then Zara walked in.
She entered like she owned the floor… black heels clicking against the marble, coat draped over her shoulders, her smirk ready before she even reached us. Two board members followed close behind, whispering like eager shadows.
"Well," she said, scanning the chaos. "looks like I came at the right time."
Ares' posture stiffened. "Who let you in here?"
