[Hazel]
“I’m afraid you can’t.”
The words cut through the thick silence like a blade—strong, firm, and fiercely protective. Every eye snapped toward the source.
Elijah stood in the doorway, his presence commanding the room like a storm breaking through a suffocating calm. His tall frame was rigid with controlled fury, his eyes blazing as they locked onto Ian's.
The tension in the room shifted, crackling like electricity in the air.
Elisabeth’s triumphant smile faltered, a flicker of uncertainty darkening her eyes.
“Can I ask why?” Ian’s voice was sharp, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his narrowed eyes as he folded his arms across his chest.
Elijah took a slow, steady breath, his fingers curling into fists at his sides before he finally spoke, voice calm but resolute. “Becau
