Shane nodded but didn't seem entirely convinced. He stepped back, his eyes flicking between Taya and Orig. The weight of the situation seemed to settle back into the air between them, thick and charged with unspoken words. There was a momentary silence, as though the room itself was holding its breath, awaiting the next move.
Meral, still seething from the earlier slap, couldn't contain her frustration any longer. She had watched the exchange unfold, her patience wearing thin with each passing second. How could Orig be so easily swayed by this child and Taya? Didn't he remember who she was? Didn't he see that she had been by his side all these years, doing everything to secure his position and his throne?
