Elena's gaze shifted toward me again.
For the third time since she had entered the room.
Seriously, what was her problem?
Everyone else was sitting right there, yet she kept looking at me as if I were some kind of puzzle she couldn't solve.
Then she smiled.
A perfectly measured smile.
The kind of smile that made people instinctively lower their guard.
"So," she said, folding her hands behind her back, "would you mind answering a few questions?"
"No."
The answer came out immediately.
Without hesitation.
Without even pretending to think about it.
The room froze.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Ryan slowly turned toward me.
Leo blinked.
Leona looked between me and Elena.
Even Nora seemed surprised.
Only Lena continued clinging to my waist as if none of this concerned her.
For the first time, Elena genuinely looked caught off guard.
Not offended.
Not angry.
Just surprised.
As though she had expected many possible answers and somehow missed the simplest one.
