Chapter 2 - The Hidden Surveillance
Julian stared down at the glowing screen of his smartphone, his heart hammering violently against his ribs as the image loaded in full detail. It was a photograph of Clara's bedroom, taken from an angle that suggested a tiny, hidden lens mounted somewhere near the ceiling molding. The caption beneath the photo read simply: She knows about the safe, Julian. Ask her what she found. He glanced back at Clara, who was quietly wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her white t-shirt, completely unaware of the digital threat looming over them. Julian knew Elena was ambitious, but a hidden camera in a child's private sanctuary crossed a terrifying line into psychological warfare. He needed to find that device immediately before Elena realized he had intercepted the message. Walking softly across the Persian rug, Julian pretended to check his email while scanning the corners of the room for any unnatural glint of light. Clara looked up, her long light brown hair falling across her face as she whispered a warning that stopped him dead in his tracks.
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