Part 2 : The dead walk, the living are found, and the monsters are finally caged.

CHAPTER 10: INTO THE LION’S DEN

The ballroom of the Grand Regency Hotel was a blinding spectacle of diamond necklaces, crystal chandeliers, and multi-millionaires sipping champagne. High society had turned out in full force for the annual Metropolitan Gala, hosted by Julian Mercer himself—a man celebrated in public as a visionary philanthropist, but known in private as a ruthless financial predator.

Lily stepped onto the red carpet wearing a striking emerald-green satin gown. Her hair was swept up in an elegant chignon, her silver pendant resting gracefully against her collarbone. Beside her walked Thomas Vance, impeccably dressed in a black tuxedo, posing as her wealthy venture-capital escort.

"Stay sharp, Lily," Vance murmured beneath his breath as they passed security scanners. "My team is in the surveillance van outside, monitoring Mercer’s private server room on the fourth floor. If Mercer catches you near his suite, I won't be able to protect you legally."

"He won't catch me," Lily replied calmly. "Because he’s going to be too busy talking to you."

Across the room, Julian Mercer stood surrounded by corporate executives and senators. He was in his late fifties, silver-haired, immaculate, with eyes like chipped ice. When his gaze fell on Lily, a sharp, amused smile crossed his lips. He excused himself from his circle and walked directly toward them.

"Miss Sterling," Mercer said smoothly, offering a polite nod. "And Agent Vance. I must admit, I didn't expect the victims of my pending lawsuit to grace us with their presence tonight."

"We came to return something you dropped, Mr. Mercer," Lily said, holding her chin high. Her tone was polite, yet laced with sharp steel. "A threat on the phone doesn't sound quite as terrifying when you're standing face-to-face with the people you're trying to ruin."

Mercer’s smile widened, though his eyes remained utterly cold. "You are brave, Lily. Just like your father was before he made the mistake of crossing our board. But bravery without capital is just suicide. By noon tomorrow, the court will appoint a receiver over your foundation. The mothers will be evicted. The children will be transferred to state facilities. And you will be broke."

"My father died standing up for what was right," Lily said quietly, leaning in so only Mercer could hear. "And you are going to go to prison sitting down."

While Vance deliberately engaged Mercer in a heated legal debate regarding federal search warrants—drawing the attention of nearby guests and Mercer’s personal security detail—Lily quietly backed away from the crowd.

She slipped into the service hallway, pulled a high-speed cloning drive from her velvet clutch, and headed straight for the private elevator leading to the fourth-floor executive suite.

The fourth floor was silent and dimly lit. Lily navigated the carpeted hallway until she reached Mercer’s suite. Using a master keycard Vance had provided, she slid into the room.

The server tower was humming quietly in the corner of Mercer's study. Lily inserted the cloning device into the primary port. A green light began flashing rapidly on her device: DATA TRANSFER 12%... 45%... 78%...

Suddenly, the heavy mahogany door swung open.