Chapter 2: Judgment in Silk and Blood
Panic erupted.
“What is this? You can’t just—” Headmaster Ellison stammered, but his voice died as one of Damien’s men stepped forward.
“No one speaks unless spoken to.”
Damien didn’t even look at him.
His gaze was locked on Chloe.
“You,” he said.
It wasn’t loud.
But it carried.
Chloe’s face paled. “I—I didn’t do anything—”
“You accused her,” Damien said. “You humiliated her. And now she’s on the floor.”
“She stole from me!” Chloe snapped, grasping for control.
Damien tilted his head slightly.
“Search her,” he said.
Two men moved instantly.
Chloe gasped as her designer purse was taken. Within seconds, a small velvet box was pulled from an inner pocket.
The Cartier watch.
The room went still.
“You planted it,” Damien said.
Chloe’s lips trembled. “No—I—”
“Enough.”
He turned to the crowd.
“Every person in this room,” Damien said, his voice now dangerously calm, “who watched a pregnant woman beg for help… and did nothing.”
Silence.
“You are all complicit.”
Phones were now useless. No one dared record.
Damien’s gaze returned to Chloe.
“You wanted to see someone on their knees,” he said softly.
May you like
He stepped closer.
“Now you will understand what that means.”
