The moment the heavy doors of the hall closed behind Mrs. Anderson, the atmosphere inside seemed to shift completely. Mr. Franklin remained standing at the center of the stage, his hands loosely clasped behind his back as he stared thoughtfully at Silas McGray. For several seconds, he said nothin

Ryan sat calmly against the rough wall, his breathing steady and controlled, as though the situation did not trouble him at all. In contrast, Elara moved restlessly across the confined space, her anxiety evident in every hurried step she took. “I still do not understand how this happened,” she sa

Ryan walked a few steps ahead of Elara, his pace steady but purposeful, as though every second mattered. Elara followed closely behind him, her expression tightening as she watched him. The urgency in his movements unsettled her. “What is wrong with you?” she asked at last, her voice carrying both

“There is nothing more to my story than what I have already told you,” Ryan said in a composed tone. “You are thinking too much into this.” Elara let out a sharp breath, her frustration evident as she took a step closer to him. “Do not say that to me,” she replied firmly. “Do not stand there and t

His eyes narrowed. “Well, well…” he muttered, stepping closer to her. “What do we have here?” Elara instinctively took a step back, her fear returning full force. The man studied her face carefully, his expression slowly changing from curiosity to recognition. “You…” he said slowly. “I remember