Chapter 153: A Smile I Didn’t Earn
The silence that came after Mark's voice faded was a different kind of quiet. Not the kind that settled softly like snowfall. No. This was the kind that dug into your skin, seeped into your bones. A silence carved by betrayal, frustration, and a thousand unanswered questions.
I held the phone so tightly I thought the glass might crack in my hand.
His voice still echoed in my ears, polished and calculated, like a dagger wrapped in silk.
"I heard about what happened to Sienna. My condolences."
A pause.
"And my apologies, Reynard, because I was the reason your identity was revealed."
The words hadn't faded. Not even a little.
"Mark," I growled. "You'd better explain."
On the other end, his breath caught just slightly. Then came that damnable laugh. Light, disarming, almost affectionate. It curdled my blood.
"You always are so direct. That's one of the things I like about you, Reynard."
"I swear to God—"