Julian’s voice cut through the silence like glass splitting against stone.

“Who the hell are you to interrupt me while I’m talking?” he demanded, his tone sharp and ridiculing, as though even my presence offended him.

I didn’t answer.

I just stood there in the middle of the whole nonsense —too calm, too still. My silence felt louder than anything I could’ve said.

Julian took a slow step closer, that same smug grin I once knew too well tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You ...