The throng of reporters had thinned, but a few stragglers lingered, their faces etched with disappointment or lingering aggression. Lara, her dress wrinkled and her hair windblown, looked up at the familiar face. Relief washed over her. A smile bloomed on her face.
"Bruno!" She murmured, surprised and grateful for his unexpected appearance. "How did you know I was here?"
"The latest rumors about Silas concerned me," Bruno explained. "I went to find you at your office and learned from the receptionist that you had attended the press conference. So, I've come down here."
His gaze swept over her with a hawk-like intensity. When his eyes landed on the fresh scratches on her arm, his expression hardened with a mix of anger and worry. "Are you hurt?"
Lara, sensing his concern, mustered a reassuring smile. "It's nothing. Just a few scratches. It'll go away."
But Bruno wasn't convinced.
