GRAYSON

Lord Andre’s face remained hard as stone, his eyes never leaving mine. He didn’t move, didn’t blink, just let the weight of his words sink in. The silence stretched between us like a taut rope, ready to snap.

Without another word, I turned and walked out, not bothering to look back.

As I stepped outside, the cool evening air hit me, but it did little to cool the fire raging inside me. My thoughts were a whirlwind of anger, confusion, and frustration, the photos still flashing in my mind like a bad dream.

I barely noticed Deborah standing on the porch, her arms wrapped around herself as if shielding...