Morning arrived with an unusual stillness over the Carter mansion.
Sunlight poured through the tall dining hall windows, but the warmth of the morning failed to ease the tension hanging in the air.
Luna Carter had barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the black notebook in Bruce's hidden compartment.
Victor Hale — high threat but useful.Adrian Wolfe — vulnerable to bait.Protect the Carter family.
Those words kept echoing in her mind.
Bruce had not denied it.
He had not even looked surprised.
As if being the mind behind an invisible war was the most natural thing in the world.
Luna slowly exhaled.
"No more guessing."
If Bruce wouldn't tell her everything, then she would start with the people closest to him.
Her sisters.
The breakfast table was quieter than usual.
Richard had already left for Carter Global headquarters.
Victoria sat with a tablet in one hand and coffee in the other, eyes scanning financial reports.
Scarlett looked mildly irritated at the morning news channels flashing red and green market updates.
Sophia calmly buttered toast while reading hospital expansion papers.
Isabella scrolled lazily through fashion projections, though even she looked more attentive than usual.
Bruce sat quietly at the far side of the table.
Perfectly calm.
As if last night had never happened.
Luna's silver eyes lingered on him.
Then she spoke.
"Have any of you noticed something strange about Bruce?"
The room went silent.
Bruce slowly looked up.
Scarlett raised an eyebrow.
"That's a dangerous way to start breakfast."
Isabella smirked.
"Our little brother is always strange."
Sophia smiled softly.
"He's very intelligent."
Luna folded her arms.
"No."
Her voice was sharper now.
"I mean, really strange."
Bruce calmly lifted his teacup.
Victoria looked over her tablet.
"What do you mean?"
Luna studied Bruce for a moment before turning back to her sisters.
"He understands things he shouldn't."
Scarlett leaned back in her chair.
"Like what?"
Luna's eyes narrowed.
"Markets."
"People."
"Threats."
She deliberately let the last word hang in the air.
Bruce's expression remained unreadable.
Sophia frowned slightly.
"You're serious."
Luna nodded.
"Yes."
Scarlett glanced toward Bruce.
Then looked back at Luna.
"He has always been mature for his age."
Luna almost laughed.
"Mature?"
Her voice dropped.
"He profiles people."
The room became still.
Even Victoria slowly lowered her tablet.
Bruce remained silent.
Luna continued.
"He talks about systems, pressure points, and corporate threats like an executive."
Victoria's eyes sharpened slightly.
Now that had her attention.
She turned toward Bruce.
"Is that true?"
Bruce calmly placed his cup down.
"I read a lot."
Scarlett snorted.
"That answer is too smooth."
Isabella laughed softly.
"I was just thinking the same thing."
Sophia looked between Luna and Bruce.
Then said quietly,
"Luna… what exactly happened?"
For a moment, Luna hesitated.
Then she made her choice.
"I went into his room last night."
Bruce's gaze lifted.
Not angry.
Just still.
The room froze.
Scarlett's expression darkened.
"You what?"
Luna ignored the tone.
"I found financial reports."
Victoria's eyes immediately narrowed.
"What kind of reports?"
Luna looked directly at Bruce.
"Executive level."
That made Victoria sit up straighter.
Bruce sighed softly.
Scarlett folded her arms.
"Well, this just became interesting."
Sophia looked worried now.
"Bruce…"
Her voice softened.
"…is something wrong?"
Bruce met her eyes.
"No."
Luna immediately cut in.
"That's exactly the problem."
Her silver eyes locked onto him.
"You're acting like none of this is abnormal."
Bruce's voice remained calm.
"Because panic solves nothing."
The room went silent again.
Scarlett slowly turned toward Victoria.
"Okay."
Her lips curved slightly.
"That definitely does not sound like a ten-year-old."
Even Isabella put her phone down now.
Victoria studied Bruce carefully.
For several long seconds.
Then she spoke quietly.
"Have you been involved in the market shifts?"
Bruce's eyes flickered.
Luna noticed.
Victoria noticed too.
That tiny pause was enough.
Victoria's expression changed.
Sharp.
Focused.
Dangerously intelligent.
"So it is you."
Bruce leaned back slightly.
"That depends on the question."
Scarlett let out a low whistle.
"Well."
She smiled faintly.
"He definitely gets that from the family."
Sophia looked troubled.
"Bruce…"
She leaned slightly toward him.
"…are you in danger?"
That question changed the room.
Bruce's calm expression softened just slightly.
"Yes."
The word landed heavily.
Luna's heart tightened.
Scarlett's posture straightened.
Victoria's gaze hardened.
Bruce continued quietly.
"But it's under control."
Scarlett gave a dry laugh.
"That's what dangerous people always say."
Isabella tilted her head.
"Who exactly are we talking about?"
Bruce was silent.
Victoria's voice lowered.
"External corporate pressure?"
Bruce looked at her.
A silent confirmation.
Victoria slowly leant back.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Her younger brother was somehow involved in a financial war large enough to touch multiple sectors.
And he was calm.
Too calm.
Scarlett finally spoke.
"From now on…"
Her eyes locked onto Bruce.
"…you don't move alone."
Bruce almost smiled.
"That sounds familiar."
Luna looked at him sharply.
"This isn't a joke."
Sophia nodded.
"She's right."
Victoria closed her tablet.
"We need to understand what's happening."
Bruce looked around the table.
For the first time—
All five sisters were watching him.
Not as a child.
Not as their little brother.
But as someone carrying a secret.
Bruce slowly exhaled.
The board had shifted again.
This time—
inside the family.
And he knew something important.
Once Victoria became suspicious—
She would investigate.
Deeply.
Bruce's mind was already calculating the next move.