* Julliane *
My mother's composure shattered. Her perfectly controlled mask cracked, and she stumbled back, her hand clutching her chest as if the accusations had struck her physically.
"No... no, this is not happening," she whispered, her eyes wide, the defiant spark flickering and dying as the weight of the situation pressed down on her. She raised a trembling hand to her mouth, her perfectly manicured fingers barely covering the trembling of her lips. "I... I didn't... This can't be right."
Lance took a step closer, the box still clutched in his hand. His broad shoulders cast a long, menacing shadow over her. His jaw tightened, and every muscle in his face pulled taut with fury.
"Stop dancing around this, Marriane," he snapped, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "Tell me why this box
