The first attack came on a Tuesday morning.
I was in the conservatory, pruning my orchids, when Mrs. MacLeod appeared in the doorway. Her face was pale, paler than I'd ever seen it. Her hands were trembling, and she was clutching her tablet like it was the only thing keeping her upright.
I'd never seen her look like that before. Not during the fire. Not during the battles with Kai. Not during any of it. Mrs. MacLeod was always the rock, the steady presence, the one who held everything together. Seeing her like this made my blood run cold.
"Ruby," she said, her voice strained. "You need to see this."
She handed me her tablet. On the screen was a news article with a headline that made my stomach drop:
"Sterling Foundation Under Fire: New Allegations of Financial Misconduct"
