KNOX
The silence that followed was deafening.
I leaned back slowly, letting my chair creak under the weight of the tension. My patience had limits, and Celina was testing every last thread of it.
“Tasha” I said quietly. “Leave.”
Her breath hitched. She looked at Celina, then at me, and bolted out without another word. Aria hesitated near the door, eyes flicking between us.
“Out,” I repeated, not looking at her.
The door clicked shut behind her, and all that was left was Celina and I. Celina stood near my desk, arms folded and chin tilted in defiance like she thought that would hide her nerves.
I stared at her hand — at the ring she’d made sure everyone saw.
“Where did you get that?”
She smiled, light and practiced. “You don’t like it? I thought—”
“I asked,” my voice dropped a not
