Chapter 11 - The Test
The words lingered.
Daniel frowned. “You think you get to decide that?”
Elara met his gaze evenly. “Tonight made that clear.”
He opened his mouth—then stopped.
Because deep down, he knew she was right.
The room fell quiet again, but it was a different kind of silence now. Not fear.
Reflection.
“What do you want?” Richard asked.
Elara didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she looked at each of them—really looked.
At Victoria’s fear.
At Daniel’s resistance.
At Richard’s regret.
“I want honesty,” she said finally. “Not the version you present to the world. The real one.”
“That’s it?” Daniel asked skeptically.
“For now.”
“And if we don’t give it to you?”
Elara glanced briefly toward the door, where the men still stood.
Then back at him.
“Then you’ll continue living exactly as you are.”
May you like
Daniel frowned. “That doesn’t sound like a threat.”
“It isn’t,” Elara said. “It’s a consequence.”
