"Dad."
Jasmine forced a smile, but every muscle in her body was wound tight with dread. "I don't know what you're talking about." The lie tasted weak and bitter on her tongue, and she knew it sounded just as pathetic to everyone else.
Across the room, Vladimir's expression stayed completely unreadable, his heavy gaze pinning her in place like a ton of bricks. "I heard everything," he said flatly. "Every single word when you were talking to my wife, and if you truly respect me as a father, then you would tell me the truth."
The whole room went dead silent. Jasmine's heart plummeted straight into her stomach. Vladimir slowly clasped his hands behind his back, his presence sucking all the air out of the space.
Madison and Einstein quickly exchanged a worried glance. Without a word, they gently steered little Esperanza away from the brewing storm, guiding her toward the edge of the room. The confused little girl looked up at them with wide eyes. "What's happening?"
