<h4>Chapter 126: Maria</h4>


    The morning sun filtered gently through the sheer curtains, casting long golden streaks across Serena’s bedroom floor. The room was quiet except for the soft rustle of the breeze outside her window and the distant chirping of birds greeting a new day. Yet, for Serena, the passage of time held no meaning.


    Nine days had passed since Marlowe’s death, but the pain remained sharp, like a knife lodged deep within her chest, impossible to remove. No matter how many mornings came and went, nothing seemed to dull the ache of loss that pulsed with every beat of her heart.


    She was back in her room after breakfast that morning as had be her routine for the past days. It had been breakfast, then back to her room, lunch, and back to her room, dinner, and back to her room. Lucian had been buried in work, so he didn’t bother her much as long as she was eating and taking care of her health, which she didn’t mind because she needed the space to think about a lot of things. Things which included her rtionship with him.


    A knock broke the stillness. The sound echoed softly, respectful, almost hesitant. Serena move to go open the door, only to find that it was Darrell knocking.


    "There’s someone downstairs, madam," he said simply. "A guest. She requests your presence."


    Serena only looked as if she was contemting something for a while before she gave a nod. "I’ll be there in a minute," she said to Darrell and he walked away.


    When she entered the living room, she saw that three people were already there. Adrian and Darrell were seated, their postures alert and guarded. Across from them sat a woman, unfamiliar to Serena at first nce. Her dark hair was pulled into a low chignon, her posture was refined, and her eyes were somber yet determined. Lucian was notably absent.


    But just as Serena stepped further into the room, Lucian appeared, emerging from the hallway that led to his office. He was dressed neatly, though there were signs of fatigue etched into the lines of his face. He offered Serena a brief nce, a silent exchange offort and strength, before joining the rest of the group.


    Once everyone had settled into their seats, the woman spoke, her voiceposed but soft. "It is indeed a pleasure to be in your midst today, Mr. and Mrs. Draven," she began, addressing them both formally. "My name is Maria."


    The moment her name was spoken, Serena and Lucian exchanged a look. Recognition flickered in their eyes. They knew the name. Marlowe had mentioned her during strategic conversations. She had been the one on the inside—the informant within the Council.


    Maria continued, her tone growing a bit more familiar now that she saw the recognition. "I don’t know if Marlowe talked about me much with you both," she said gently, "but I was her informant at the Council. We worked closely together. She trusted me, and I trusted her."


    Lucian leaned slightly forward, speaking with a calm but clear voice. "She didn’t speak of you often, but she did mention you in a few of our meetings. So yes, we are familiar with the name Maria."


    Maria gave a small nod of acknowledgment, visibly touched. Then her expression shifted as the weight of grief settled on her shoulders. "I want to extend my deepest condolences to you," she said, her voice cracking. "I’m still in shock, honestly. I keep expecting to hear from her, to see her stride into a room and make everything feel under control again."


    She paused, clearly struggling to maintain herposure. "She was a good friend. She was more than that. She was a mentor. A sister. We had made ns—simple things. We were going to take a trip together during the next holiday season. We were both looking forward to it." Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for a tissue from her bag. She dabbed at her eyes, blinking quickly to hold back the tears.


    The room was quiet, the others allowing her the space to grieve. There was no need to fill the silence. Her emotions mirrored their own.


    "I’m sorry," Maria said after a moment, drawing a steadying breath. "I’m just having a hard time keeping it together. Please, give me a moment."


    Lucian offered her a small nod, understanding that there were no quick fixes for the kind of pain they all carried. Maria gathered herself with another deep breath, squared her shoulders, and looked directly at him.


    "The reason I came today," she began again, her voice clearer now, "is to give you an update on the Council and to let you know that this fight is far from over."


    Her gaze shifted between Lucian and Serena. "As you may already know, the Council building has been sealed off. It will remain that way until further notice. The only part of the structure still in use is the residentialplex, the apartments where staff members live. That section remains functional because those individuals have nowhere else to go. It’s their home."


    Lucian nodded slightly. He was already aware of this. Bonnie had kept him up to date, feeding him reports as he worked behind the scenes to fulfill his end of the bargain they had struck.


    Maria pressed on. "All Council leaders have been found and taken into custody. They are cooperating with security agencies. All except for one. Salvador." She paused, letting the name hang heavily in the air. "He remains atrge. Likely in hiding. And he is dangerous—more dangerous now than ever."


    Her eyes locked with Serena’s. "He is the reason why you both need to leave the country. At least for a while. Just until we find him and neutralize the threat he poses."


    Lucian and Serena exchanged another nce, this one tinged with resistance. Both frowned at the suggestion. Leaving now felt like surrender, like stepping away from unfinished business. But Maria continued before they could protest.


    "You are advised to leave immediately after Marlowe’s funeral," she said. "Security will be extremely tight on that day to make sure Salvador does not try anything foolish. We will not allow him to turn a moment of remembrance into another tragedy."


    Silence followed her words, thick and loaded with emotions. Then Maria turned her attention back to Lucian, her expression shifting into something more determined.


    "There is one more thing," she said. "Something important. Mr. Draven, I know you’re angry. I know you see Modi as the enemy. But believe it or not, Modi is the only friend you have left inside the Council. And he is the reason you are still alive."


    The mention of Modi drew sharp reactions from everyone. The air shifted, darkened with remembered betrayals. Serena’s eyes narrowed, Adrian leaned forward slightly, and Darrell’s jaw tightened.


    Maria raised her hand in a gentle gesture. "Please. Just hear me out. If not for Modi, Salvador would have taken you out by now. The reason it appears that Modi is working with Salvador is because he is doing everything he can to keep your case under his jurisdiction. He’s keeping it from being reassigned to another leader—because if that happened, things would spiral beyond his control. And yours."


    She let her words settle before continuing. "Have you ever stopped to wonder how Marlowe found you that day? How she knew exactly where to go? Only two people knew where you were held. Only two knew the lockbination. Salvador and Modi."


    She turned toward Serena now, softening her tone. "If Marlowe found that room, and used the correct code, someone had to give it to her. And I do not think I need to tell you who that was."


    Another pause. The room was quieter now, the tension still palpable but apanied by a subtle shift in understanding. Doubt, once aimed solely at Modi, now held room for reconsideration.


    "And one more thing," Maria said, "we used to believe that Serena was safe. That Salvador would not harm her because his focus was on Lucian. But that’s changed. He is not thinking clearly anymore. He has be reckless, unhinged. Your safety is no longer guaranteed."


    She stood slowly, gathering her things, signaling that her visit was nearing its end. "I will try to stay in touch," she promised. "And I’ll do what I can from inside."


    Lucian rose from his seat and gave her a respectful nod. "Thank you, Maria."


    Serena echoed his gratitude, her voice steady though her mind was still processing everything that had been said. Adrian and Darrell also offered their thanks, and Maria smiled gently in return.


    As she moved toward the door, she paused and looked back at Lucian. "Before I forget, there are documents in my possession. Files that you need to see. I will send them to you tomorrow."


    With that, she turned and exited the house, leaving behind a silence filled with new questions, quiet revtions, and the heavy weight of decisions yet to be made.


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