The studio lights were merciless.
Bright. Unforgiving. Designed to strip away illusion and force the world to see only the truth—or whatever could survive under scrutiny.
Serena Quinn sat straight-backed in the leather chair, microphone clipped at her collar, the faint hum of the live broadcast countdown ticking in her ear.
Across from her, Clara Voss adjusted her notes but didn’t smile.
She didn’t need to.
Clara’s reputation preceded her—ruthless with liars, fair to truth-tellers, and impossible to intimidate. Serena had chosen her for exactly that reason.
No softball questions.
No cozy edits.
Only the truth.
And Serena was ready.
Even if her hands trembled out of frame.
“We’re live in three… two… one.”
The camera’s red light blinked on.
There was a strong, crisp quality to C
