Noah's heart sank as his stepmother's piercing voice cut through the air like nails on a chalkboard. Despite his best efforts to maintain his composure, he couldn't shake the wave of dread that washed over him at the sight of Lilian.
Her perfectly coiffed hair and impeccable makeup did little to mask the underlying hostility in her gaze as she appraised Alison with thinly veiled contempt. Noah clenched his jaw, steeling himself for the inevitable confrontation that seemed to loom on the horizon.
Alison, ever the picture of grace under pressure, offered a polite smile in return, her eyes betraying a flicker of uncertainty as she met Lilian's gaze head-on. It was clear that she sensed the tension crackling in the air, the unspoken animosity that simmered just beneath the surface.
"Thank y
