Chapter 121

The moment Logan spotted the man in the corner of the ballroom, he stiffened. “That’s him,” he murmured, squinting slightly. “That’s the doctor.” I followed his gaze. The man was surprisingly young—late twenties at most. Tall, with dark hair brushed neatly to the side, wearing a sleek black tuxedo. He stood alone, browsing the gallery of photos near the event’s entrance. “That’s the great Dr. Leo Aldrin?” I whispered, incredulous. Logan nodded slowly. “Yeah. He was always media-shy. Most of the published articles used old or obscured photos. I never realized he was this young.” As if sensing our attention, the doctor turned. His eyes swept the room—then locked on mine. He froze. For a long moment, he didn’t move. Then he took a slow step forward. His eyes remained locked on my face, his expression stunned, almost... haunted. He reached us in seconds. “What’s your name?” he asked, his voice low and slightly breathless. Logan immediately stepped in, shoulders squaring. “Excuse me?” But I