The dimly lit chamber felt heavy with tension as Lauren's mind raced with the haunting possibilities of what could have transpired moments ago. Her fingers trembled, and her heart pounded loudly in her chest, drowning out all other sounds. She could still vividly picture the maid's shocked expression as she had stumbled upon the truth.
"I could have killed her right there, Alec…" The words slipped from her lips in a whisper filled with the weight of the world. She turned the scenario over in her mind, imagining the consequences if she had allowed her anger to engulf her. "I could have even gone out of the room, exposing what I truly am, and perhaps killed Matthias and Julian."
