Elena’s POV

Elder Chen clung to Matthews’ words as if they were a rope thrown down to a man already slipping off a cliff.

He didn’t hesitate for even a second.

“Yes—exactly,” he said hoarsely, nodding so fast it bordered on panic. “That recording means nothing. I was drunk. Completely drunk. Anyone here who’s ever had a few too many knows that words spoken under those circumstances can’t be taken seriously.”

He swallowed hard, then forced a laugh, as though ...