Chapter 10: Chapter 10

"Consequences… why?" Althea's voice cut through the tension, her hands clenched beneath the table.

Every pair of eyes in the room turned to lock onto them, their collective scrutiny weighing heavily on Althea.

Yet, her gaze remained fixed on Darian, and he met her unwavering stare head-on.

"I hate lies," he replied with a cold edge, his words dripping with an unsettling intensity. "It might lead you to perilous places with me."

Althea's nervous laughter couldn't mask the truth in her words as she bit her lip and confessed, "Fine… I am scared of you, I don't like sitting close to you, I want to eat alone. I want to be by myself. Happy?"

Darian's face remained a mask of indifference, and a heavy silence enveloped the room as everyone watched with bated breath. She had just crossed a line, something considered audacious and perilous.

But the expected repercussions didn't materialize.