The atmosphere inside the modest Carvel residence was thick enough to choke a person. Outside, the neon lights of Duskhaven City flickered against a graying sky, but inside, the air crackled with a much more volatile energy. Dominic Mylod stood near the window, his silhouette calm, almost statuesque, contrasting sharply with the agitated pacing of Eddison Flynn.
"You have the audacity to lecture me?" Eddison barked, his face flushed a mottled purple. He stepped into Dominic’s personal space, radiating a desperate sort of bravado. "You’re nothing but a parasite in the Flynn family, a useless, dim-witted son-in-law who lucked into a marriage he doesn't deserve—"
Crack!
The sound of the slap was like a gunshot in the small living room. Dominic’s hand had moved with a speed that defied the
