The silence hanging over the hall collided with the sound of Claire's breathing. Everyone's eyes were fixed on her—some filled with hope, others with fear. Claire looked down at her trembling hands, hands that no longer felt the way they once had. Nicolas's betrayal had not only turned her body into a strange kind of void, but had also left deep wounds upon her soul.
She drew a long, measured breath and lifted her head. There was an awkwardness on her face, as though she were fighting a battle within herself—between fear and responsibility.
