Chapter 415

Cecilia's pov I watched Maggie’s perfect mask start to crack, and satisfaction warmed my chest. The fury in her eyes told me I had hit my mark. I casually tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and let a slow smile curve my lips as quiet laughter spread through the room like a soft current of amusement. Zane stood frozen for a moment before recovering, his expression twisting into an awkward smile. "I’ll consider it, of course," he said, his voice too smooth to sound honest. "You’re my daughter. I would never disappoint you." The sweet talk rolled off his tongue like cheap booze at a dive bar, easy to serve but hard to swallow. I could see right through his little stalling act. He smelled of fear and guilt, faint like iron and smoke. Maggie was too angry to stay calm. With one quick motion, she pushed over the antique vase stand near the door. The porcelain crashed to the floor, and she stormed out. The sound echoed through the hall like a gunshot. The carpet softened the fall, but the