Time/Date: TC1853.01.20 – Midday
Location: Long Family Vehicle, En Route to Metropolitan Police Station, 4th Ring
When Darian spoke, his voice carried no warmth. No gentleness. Nothing but the cold precision of someone who'd already made terrible decisions and would make worse ones before this day ended.
"Serenya," he said quietly. "I don't give a damn about your fears and feelings. Right now, the three of us—" He gestured sharply to encompass himself, Caelia, and Serenya. "—and the entire Long, Lin, and Xuán families are facing a crisis that could destroy everything we've built over centuries. If you still want to be the eldest daughter of the Long family when this is over, you need to come clean. Completely. No omissions. No protective lies. No, trying to minimize what you've done."
He paused, letting that sink in, watching Serenya's face drain of color until she looked like carved marble.
