The silence that followed was louder than any words.
Estelle held Magnus's gaze for a moment longer, her expression unreadable, even as her mind spun beneath the surface. Then, slowly, she turned her head toward Vance, her eyes hardening. "I'll need a copy of the contract," she said. "I want to know exactly what I've been pushed into."
Vance let out a faint, humorless breath, his lips curving into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Why don't we focus on what is more immediate?" he replied, his tone laced with condescension. "Like proving you even deserve to stay in this house." He tilted his head slightly, studying her. "Or better yet, standing on your own two feet first. Because if you fail," he added, almost idly, "that contract won't matter anyway. You won't be here to use it." The jab landed.
