Adeline's posture remained proud, but her lips were pressed in a taut line—somewhere between annoyance and disbelief. She gave Damien one last, unreadable look, then turned toward the door.
Before she reached it, Dominic's voice cut through again—measured, cool.
"Adeline."
She paused.
"You may go. This discussion is over for now."
Adeline hesitated just a second too long, but she nodded, straightened, and left without another word. The sound of her heels faded into the hall, then vanished entirely.
The door shut behind her.
Silence.
Dominic didn't speak right away. He didn't look at Damien, either. He remained seated, hands steepled under his chin, gaze fixed on the far wall. Then, slowly, he shifted his eyes—cold gray locking onto Damien with quiet weight.
"The wager was your idea," he said. "But it's not why I called you here."
Damien didn't flinch. "I figured."
Dominic stood again, the firelight catching the faint silver at his temples as he turned away from the desk.
