“Come on, Jamie,” he said. “Let’s see if you’ve finally learned how to defend your queen.”
Jamie blinked, then stood, pushing his chair back. “I told you, Grandpa—you just don’t like losing.”
A faint huff of amusement escaped Charles as he walked away with him.
The silence that followed was heavier than before. Charles’s and Jamie’s footsteps echoed through the room as they walked away.
Damien sat motionless, every instinct screaming that Maya’s quiet withdrawal wasn’t anger.
It was evaluation.
And for the first time that morning, he understood—
This wasn’t about a concert.
This wasn’t about Jin.
This wasn’t about pride.
It was about whether he trusted her enough to let her stand where she had already chosen to be.
The silence didn’t last forever.
Ashcroft leaned back in his ch
