Liam's face twisted with resentment as his glare fixed squarely on Ethan.
"I want—"
"No."
Ethan cut him off before he could finish, his tone blunt and final.
"I haven't even said what I want yet!" Liam snapped, his voice sharp, his expression darkening.
Markham let out an unexpected snort of laughter. When Matriarch Whitmore turned her head, he quickly clapped a hand over his mouth, but the damage was done. The rest of the room looked utterly bewildered.
What was Ethan playing at? To everyone else, it looked like he was deliberately provoking Liam into pressing that detonator.
"Uh… sorry, go on." Ethan scratched the side of his head, dislodging a clump of dried mud from his hair.
"Hmph…"
Liam inhaled slowly, trying to steady himself. Ethan's antics had rattled him more than he cared to admit, but after a pause he composed himself enough to continue.
"I want you to sign this agreement."
