"Anastasia, why didn't you bring your son with you?" Erica's voice cut in sharply, deliberately exposing a truth she had been waiting to reveal, her intent carried by a subtle surge of competitive instinct.
I met her gaze without flinching, keeping my emotions contained despite the sudden shift in attention. "That's not something you need to concern yourself with. My son is being properly looked after."
Erica turned toward Elliot almost immediately, pressing further as if trying to provoke a reaction. "President Presgrave, did you know my sister has a child? He's already four. Raising him alone hasn't been easy for her."
Her tone carried an edge of implication, as though revealing my situation would diminish my standing and influence how others perceived me within the pack. She was trying to weaken my position by exposing personal details, framing them as vulnerabilities.
