Silas's smirk didn't fade.
"He's lying. He is my lover," he said, his tone dripping with mockery.
The hall gasped.
What?
The single word echoed through the Chamber like a crack of thunder. Shock rippled outward, rolling through the crowd in hushed murmurs and sharp intakes of breath. Some turned toward Holland in disbelief, others toward Silas in open outrage.
Holland's chest tightened painfully. His stomach churned as though it were folding in on itself. He felt every pair of eyes in the Chamber settle on him, the weight of their attention pressing down like a physical force. His hands shook as he gripped the edge of the divider, knuckles whitening as he fought to stay upright.
For a moment, the world narrowed to the sound of his own breathing—too fast, too shallow.
Holland was called back to the witness stand.
