Daniel's pov

The room was in a state of shock, a quiet storm of gasps and muttered whispers that hung in the air like a thick, poisonous fog. Everyone stood frozen, processing Jake's accusations.

The silence was loud and defeaning.

It was Claire who broke it, her voice surprisingly steady, a mask of feigned outrage now firmly in place, a well-rehearsed performance designed to protect herself from the fallout.

"This... this is an outrage!" she declared, her eyes wide with what was ...