My head snaps toward her.
“What?”
“And those two—” Nina nods subtly toward the pair disappearing down the hall,
“—Frederick and Josephine. His step-siblings.”
A cold shiver rushes through me.
His stepfamily.
The ones who won’t tolerate someone like me existing near their power.
I suddenly understand the malice in their eyes.
The smugness.
The superiority.
Nina touches my elbow gently.
“I’m sorry you had to meet them today… especially like this.”
I swallow hard, but the truth settles heavy and unmovable inside me:
I barely have time to process Nina’s whisper before Cassia appears at my side.
Her expression is neutral, professional, but there’s no mistaking the authority in her stride.
“You’ll come with me,” she says simply.
Her tone leaves no room for discussion.
I follow,
