Chapter 110

The clock on the wall of the control room read 3:17 AM as

Camille stood by Hannah Zhao's workstation, watching streams of code flicker across multiple screens. A faint blue glow bathed the room in ethereal light, casting long shadows across the faces of the twelve er six hours.

“It's time,” Hannah said, looking up at Camille with red-

rimmed eyes that nonetheless sparkled with determination. "The first section of the Grid is ready for activation."

Camille nodded, her heart pounding against her ribs. "Everyone in position?”

Through her earpiece, Alexander's steady voice confirmed, "Security teams are in place. The suspected saboteur is

working on the east junction, thinking he's alone while preparing the final circuits."

"And whoever it is has no idea we've replaced everything?" Camille asked Hannah.

Hannah's lips curved into a smile that

held no humor. "Not unless they actually test the components, which doesn't appear to be part of their instructions. Whoever it is, they're following the sabotaged plans to the letter, installing modified circuits tha seventy-two hours after full activation."

Camille took a deep breath, steadying herself against the edge of the desk. This wasn't just a business venture

or even a simple triumph over Rose and Herod. The Phoenix Grid represented something more profound-

her rebirth from the ashes of Camille Lewis into someone new, someone who

created rather than destroyed.

"Let's bring it online," she said quietly.

Hannah's fingers flew across the keyboard. "Initiating power

sequence to Section A. Substation One coming online in five, four, three, two..."

The room fell silent as

the main display showed a schematic of the Grid's first section, a network of intersecting lines spanning six city blocks. For a heart- stopping moment, nothing

happened. Then, one by one, the connection points illuminated, bright blue dots spreading through the network like stars appearing in the evening sky.

"Power flow stable," called out Rishabh from his monitoring station. "All junction points green. Transformer loads at expected levels." "Voltage regulation is holding," added

Elena, her voice tight with concentration. "No fluctuations detected."

"Security protocols

active," said Marcus, his fingers moving rapidly across his keyboard, "No unauthorized access attempts."

Camille found herself holding her breath as the indicators continued to light up across the display. This

was it, the moment they would discover if their countermeasures

had worked, if they had truly managed to outmaneuver Rose and Herod's

sabotage.

1/6

Chapter 110

"Section A fully operational," Hannah announced finally, swiveling in her chair to face the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have successfully brought the first section of the Phoenix Grid online."

Cheer erupted from the exhausted team, the sound of it washing over Camille like a wave. She closed her eyes briefly, allowing herself to feel the victory.

"Remarkable work," came Victoria's voice from the doorway. Camille hadn't heard her enter. "But I presume we're maintaining appearances?"

unless someone physically inspects the component Victoria nodded, her silver hair catching the blue light from the

came through the speakers. "Currently packing up his

our team picked up the word

beside Victoria. "The more confident Rose and Herod feel, the more likely

studied the

known many enemies in my

Prestons. Herod's father would be proud

"We have something they

Alexander replied through the comm system. "We know

screen showing complex data flows. "I've implemented what

minor

system that appear to be part of the normal startup process. If anyone's monitoring our systems remotely,

preparing

the backup power

confirmed. "If anything goes

No interruption, no explosions, no

strange mixture of emotions as she watched

Pride in

it. And something else, a quiet satisfaction that went

moment," she murmured, stepping away from the group and walking to the

Dawn was still

but New York never truly slept.

apartments, people going

the shadows. Somewhere out

reflection stared back at her

She barely resembled Camille Lewis anymore, that trusting woman who had signed divorce papers with quiet dignity

"Penny for your thoughts?"

voice startled her. He had arrived in

in the

thinking about who I've become,” she admitted. "When Victoria

to make them

you're creating something

"That's the difference between you and Rose. She

turned to face him. "Do you think she knows?

we've discovered the sabotage?"

his head. "If she knew,

making mistakes. Everything suggests

is set and

"Two more

official launch," Camille said quietly. "Everything we've worked for

down to that moment."

everything," Alexander countered, taking

"This project

your whole

down at

room where they

she was simply kind to a stranger, and again when that

Kane?" Hannah called from across the room.

returned to the central console

up a

main server," Hannah explained, pointing to a flashing indicator. "Someone's trying to view the activation

trace it?"

the keyboard. "It's bouncing

multiple proxies, but..

appears to be a penthouse

"Herod's building," Alexander

wondering if their sabotage is working as

give them exactly what

voice hardening. " Show them the honeypot data.

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