As they stepped out of the car and approached the mansion, Irina felt a small knot of tension settle in her stomach. She had never brought anyone here like this before, much less someone like Astron, whose calm indifference masked a world of complexities. She stole a quick glance at him, trying to gauge his reaction, but his expression was as composed as ever—completely unaffected by the grandeur of the Emberheart estate or the formality of the situation. His calm demeanor seemed almost absurd in contrast to the sheer weight of the occasion.
A faint laugh escaped her, the sound almost bitter. Why was I even worried? she thought, shaking her head at herself. This guy… he's always been like this, hasn't he? Astron had a way of facing situations, even the most intense ones, with that quiet, unshakeable calm that made him so different from everyone else she knew.
