The air around him felt heavy—too heavy for comfort. Alex opened his eyes to find Vanessa's cold, piercing gaze fixed on him like a predator ready to pounce. The dim light of the ornate chandelier above cast a pale glow on her sharp features, accentuating the frost in her expression.
Even without her saying a word, Alex could feel her displeasure. Her icy blue eyes, gleaming with a chill sharper than winter winds, bore into him with unspoken questions.
"Explain," she said, her voice as calm as still water yet carrying an undertone of authority that silenced the room.
Alex blinked, sitting up slowly with Alenia's help. He noticed Vanessa's hand resting tensely on her lap, her fingers curling ever so slightly—a rare sign of how tightly wound she was.
"About what?" He asked cautiously, though he had a sinking suspicion about what this was all about.
