Kapitel 81: Ashes

The silence that followed was deafening. Cassie gasped, covering her mouth, while Roger stepped forward instinctively.

Milo and Colin flinched in fear, gripping each other tightly. Mercury's eyes widened.

Eratz's head snapped to the side from the force of the slap, but he didn't move, not even flinch. Slowly, he turned his head back to face her, his red eyes cold, dead.

Liora's chest heaved, her hand still raised, trembling with the aftershock of the slap. Her face was twisted with fury, but there was a flicker of despair behind her eyes.

Marcus stood frozen, his mouth open as if he was about to speak but didn't dare utter a word.

Eratz's voice came out low, almost a murmur.

"Now that's more like you."

The room was silent , filled with tension, the crackling energy of a storm waiting to explode.

Suddenly, the sharp sound echoed in the room, and for a moment, everything seemed to stand still.