The dining room crackled with tension. Clara turned to our father with wide eyes, her face flushed with anger.
"Give her the money and make her leave," she demanded, jabbing her finger in my direction. "I don't care how much it costs. Pay her off and be done with it!"
Baron Reginald's eyes darted nervously between us. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he fumbled with his napkin.
"It's not that simple," he muttered. "I can't just hand over the inheritance. There are... complications."
"Complications?" Clara echoed mockingly. "What complications? It's her money. Give it to her so she'll disappear forever!"
I watched my father squirm, savoring the moment. For once, he couldn't hide behind his facade of respectability. His lies were unraveling thread by thread.
"He can't give me what he doesn't have," I said coolly. "Isn't that right, Father?"
The Baron's face drained of color. "I don't know what you mean."
