Elena looked into her husband's shadowed eyes. The question struck deep in the recesses of her heart—subtle, yet piercing. She knew that sooner or later Nathan would ask it. And tonight, when everything was quiet and the children were asleep, there was no better time to be honest.

"I'm not going," Elena replied firmly, her voice soft but sure.

Nathan frowned, curious. "Are you sure? I know there are parts of your life left behind in that city. Companies, connections, and maybe old friends."

Elena shook her head slowly. "I can take care of those things from here. I've assembled a team I can trust. It's a different world now,...