Vivian
The silence did not break.
It expanded.
Not emptiness—pressure.
Like the room itself was waiting, listening for what we would do next.
Sebastian had not moved far from me. His presence was steady, close enough that I could feel warmth radiating from him even without touching. He was not reacting like a man surprised by revelation.
He was reacting like a man preparing for war.
Mrs. Elara remained near the table, her fingers trembling slightly against its edge. She tried to hold herself upright, but memory and fear had already begun their quiet work inside her.
Lucas spoke again through the secure channel.
"The D'Aragon network is mobilizing," he reported calmly. "Movement detected across three private sectors. Financial channels are activating protective layers. They expected contact."
Expected.
Not hoped. Not feared. Expected.
Sebastian finally spoke.
"Which means they planned this moment long before tonight."
Lucas did not disagree.
