Samuel stood frozen, still reeling from the storm of realization that had just struck him. His lips were slightly parted, as if words were trying to form but were unable to leave his mouth. The fire that had raged so loudly in him moments ago was now replaced with cold silence—shocked, stunned silence.
His two representatives—who had been standing confidently behind him just minutes earlier—were now statues. Their eyes darted from Malisa to Cora, then back to Samuel. Neither of them dared to speak. Their carefully prepared scripts, negotiation tactics, and backup plans had all just crumbled into dust.
They were as shocked as Samuel—if not more.
Malisa, sensing the heavy tension in the room, turned slowly to Samuel, her face calm but firm. Her eyes no longer held the warmth from earlier. This time, they were clear and cold—professional and sharp like someone about to make a formal declaration.
