Zayn's POV
"Yes, but on our way here, Sylvie received a call from a friend and said she needed to go meet them."
Valerie Rothschild observed me with penetrating scrutiny, her sharp gaze seemingly attempting to extract hidden truths from my facial expressions. I recognized this manner of intense examination and thus returned her stare with equal directness, refusing to yield under her inspection.
A silent standoff.
Finally, Valerie smiled meaningfully. "It couldn't have been easy, turning Kingstrike Armaments into the most powerful arms dealer in just three years, could it? A man of your stature, yet still indulging our family's willful girl—you must have your hands full. And now, with your beta hanging between life and death while your fiancée is off enjoying herself with friends... that must be frustrating."
