and widened with incredulity. For a heartbeat, the room seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with palpable tension. David’s gaze flickered between me and Alex, his expression a cocktail of confusion, disbelief, and something that closely resembled regret.
“Surprised to see us?” I asked, my voice steady despite my racing heart.
David opened his mouth as if to speak but no words came. Instead, it was Margaret who found her voice first, regaining her composure with a swift, imperious grace.
