Undivided Attention

Once Merrick was certain that the officers and Alice had likely entered the elevator, he turned his attention back to Nora. His tone remained harsh and uncompromising as he issued his next command. "Mrs. Nora, go back to the storeroom and continue working on those files. No more delays."

Nora nodded, her face a mask of resignation as she suppressed the disappointment welling up inside her. With a heavy heart, she retraced her steps towards the storeroom, aware that her hopes of reuniting with her children had been temporarily dashed.

As Alice and the officers emerged from The elevator, they made their way down the corridor toward the lobby. The atmosphere lightened slightly, but the weight of the situation still lingered in Alice's heart. She knew she had a difficult task ahead—to explain to Axel and Mia, Nora's twins, why their mother couldn't be with them just yet.

As they reached the lobby, Axel and Mia spotted Alice, their eyes wide with anticipation. Rushing towards her, they bom