Rhaella's POV

The room suddenly became too small for me. Too full of people staring at me with pity I didn't ask for.

And in that silence, something inside me hardened. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, walked to the couch, picked up my phone, and started dialing a number.

“Rhaella?” Sylvia’s voice came cautiously. “Who are you calling?”

I didn’t answer.

My mom's voice trembled. "Who is it?"

Michael stepped closer, trying to see the screen, but I turned away from him and pressed the phone to my ear.

The line rang once, twice. Then on the third ring, someone picked up.

"This is Bane."...