Silence fell between them.
Hugo looked away, lifted the glass, and drained it in one long gulp. Ice clinked sharply against the rim before he set it down with a muted thud. He exhaled through his nose, the sound heavy—final.
"The project," he said at last, reaching for the bottle again, "the only hope we had of regaining our power… has been terminated."
Roseline froze.
Her breath hitched, eyes widening as though she hadn't heard him correctly. "W-what?" She surged to her feet and crossed the room in quick, agitated strides. "How? That project was sealed. No one had the authority to shut it down."
Hugo poured himself another drink, unhurried, deliberate, before turning to face her.
"Because the chairman of Glorious International decided to intervene."
The color drained from her face.
