I felt the tension in the room snap like a wire as Hunter and the Barions fumbled with their apologies. Evelyn’s silence hung heavily in the air, fragile yet powerful, and I knew immediately that her heart was softening—but only slightly. She still carried pain, and the memory of years of neglect hadn’t faded.
Anna tugged gently at my sleeve. Her touch grounded me, reminded me to stay calm. I leaned close and whispered, “It looks like she forgives you.”
Hunter and the rest of the family exhaled in unison, relief flooding their faces. Gratitude shone in their eyes, but I didn’t let them forget the cost of their past cruelty.
“Remember,” I said slowly, my voice cold and precise, “if there’s a next time, I won’t let you off so easily.”
A shiver ran through them. None of them dared to spea
