**Stefano’s POV**

The world didn't just stop; it fractured.

I stood there, my boots planted firmly on the cold tiles, as the air in the room turned to ice. I looked down at Joel, who was still trembling on the floor like a wounded animal. For a second, I didn't see a man. I saw a failure. I saw a crack in my armor I couldn't undo.

"What the hell did you just say?" I asked.

My voice wasn't a shout. It was a low, dangerous whisper. I spoke slowly, as if the words were too heavy for my tongue to ...