me.
Don’t start this tonight.
The old Lauren would have answered, desperate for an explanation.
I’d have spent Christmas morning arguing about whether my own eyes could be trusted.
Instead, I saved screenshots and disabled read receipts.
At 1:12, Mr. Harris called again.
“The first protections are in place.”
“Already?”
“That’s what emergency provisions are for.”
I glanced at the documents scattered across Cole’s desk.
“What exactly did you freeze?”
“Nothing belonging to Cole.”
His distinction mattered.
“We restricted access to assets belonging to you and the twins’ protected
