The room hung heavy with tension, each breath feeling thick, as if the walls themselves were holding back a storm.
Damien stood rigid, fists tightening at his sides. His eyes, dark and unyielding, burned with a fierce, protective intensity. Every muscle in his body radiated danger, a silent promise that he would defend what was his at any cost.
Maya remained frozen beside Dahlia, her heart hammering, chest tight. Her hands clenched instinctively in her lap, nails biting into her palms as waves of fear and disbelief coursed through her.
Dahlia’s eyes flicked between them, sharp, unflinching. Beneath the calculation, though, something gentler trembled—a flicker of worry, a silent acknowledgment of the storm raging in both their hearts.
Finally, she spoke, her voice low, deliberate, almos
