"Welfare assessment?" Sebastian repeated slowly.
The security guard nodded carefully.
"Yes, sir."
The atmosphere inside the Vale estate shifted instantly again.
Nobody looked surprised anymore.
Only exhausted.
Because at this point, every solution seemed to create another problem.
Vale rubbed frustrated fingers across his forehead before looking toward Sebastian.
"They think we are psychologically damaging the children."
"No," Vivian said quietly.
Everyone looked at her.
"They think the children are already damaged."
That silence hit differently.
Because nobody could deny it.
The memory of the previous night still sat heavily inside every corner of the room.
The screaming.
The panic.
The desperate reaching.
The children had reacted like they were being stolen all over again.
Sebastian looked toward the baby resting peacefully against his shoulder.
Then toward Isabella carrying Vivian's biological son.
