The hall broke into applause—an applause that seemed to come from some of the very people Hades had once considered supporters.
His face darkened as he scanned the crowd, watching his allies clap with barely concealed approval.
As the applause continued, Hades's face twisted with fury.
With one last glare at the hall, he spun on his heel and stormed out, his footsteps echoing through the silence that followed his departure.
Then, people began trickling out, murmurs floating through the air, but Aurora lingered, lost in thought as she processed everything that had unfolded.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mother, Victoria, walking toward the exit alongside Elizabeth.
With a determined breath, Aurora hurried after them, her heels clicking softly as she made her way through the dispersing crowd.
She finally caught up just as they reached the grand doors.
