"He's not," Roseanne said, forcing the lie past her throat. "Kaden is my son."
Czar's jaw tightened as he stared straight into her eyes. His gaze was cold, sharp, and clearly unsatisfied with her answer. He didn't speak right away. The silence stretched heavy and tense as he studied her face like he was trying to peel the truth out of it.
But Roseanne didn't move. She held her ground, refusing to look away.
Then his lips slowly curved into a cold grin, one she had never seen on him before.
"I get it," he said, his deep voice low and controlled. "You're setting this up to start a war."
"I don't understand what you mean—"
She didn't get to finish.
Czar's hand shot forward and wrapped around her neck, squeezing hard. The sudden force cut off her breath. Roseanne gasped, her hands flying up as she struggled against him, hitting his arm again and again.
"W-what—uhk… are you doing?! Let me go!"
