Ella felt the weight of the room shift with every passing second. Slowly, she released her hands from Valen's grip, her eyes meeting his briefly before she took a step back to address both him and Derek. Valen’s demeanor changed instantly, a flicker of unease crossing his face at her withdrawal. He didn’t lash out, though; instead, he kept his emotions tightly guarded, as if he knew her resistance was deserved.

Derek stood there, his expression conflicted, his eyes locked on her. He seemed stunned, unable to process the weight of what she’d just said. Ella inhaled deeply, forcing herself to meet their gazes evenly.

"Derek," she began, her voice...