JULIAN'S POV
I stood behind a sleek podium in the City Hall press room, the "Vaughn" crest gleaming beneath the harsh LED studio lights. Richard stood to my left, his hand resting on my shoulder in a grip that looked supportive to the cameras but felt like a vice to me.
"Set the feed to live," Richard commanded, his voice cutting through the chatter of the crew. "I want the whole state to see this. No delays, no edits. Just the truth of our family's unity."
"Senator, we usually run a five-minute delay for security," the lead technician stammered, adjusting his headset.
Richard leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Did I ask for a security protocol? I asked for a live link. This campaign is built on transparency. Now, do your job or I'll find someone who can."
I felt the familiar, cold knot of dread tightening in my gut. I looked over at Catherine, who was seated in the front row next to her mother. She looked pale, her fingers digging into the fabric of her cream-colored slacks.
