ch - 360
Esther looked at Julianna with a knowing smile, one that conveyed, *I know what you're trying to do,* yet remained silent. She wasn't here to be rattled by provocative questions or dragged into the past. Esther was beyond that now—strong, confident, and prepared to handle anything or anyone, including Arthur and those who had once caused her pain. She had grown, and fear no longer held a place in her heart.
Julianna, sensing the steel beneath Esther's calm exterior, shifted her approach but pressed on with her usual directness. "How are you doing lately, President Vritra?" she asked, with a hint of challenge in her tone.
Esther responded smoothly, her smile unfaltering. "I'm doing well, thank you. And I know you're doing just as good," she replied, her voice steady but with an unmistakable undertone that said she wasn't about to be shaken today.
