An eerie silence fell over the hallway. Everyone stared at Elara with wide eyes, frozen by the sight of the gun. Max shook in place, the cold metal pressed against her skin, but she stood her ground. Even as the men tried to pull her away, she fought to stay.
Max couldn't forget the smile on Lyra's face that night, filled with such deep sadness. She didn't know exactly what Elara had done behind closed doors, but she knew one thing for sure: Lyra was better off anywhere in the world as long as it was away from Elara.
"You're being too loud, Max," Elara sighed. She lifted one finger to her lips, signaling for silence. "Keep your voice down. You wouldn't want to frighten the child, do you?"
The words were deliberate. A heavy confusion settled over the hallway. The men swapped nervous glances, and a deep frown formed on Max's face. Elara watched the confusion grow, holding Max's gaze just long enough to let a smug smirk pull at her lips.
