Claire didn't wait for Cyprian to repeat himself.
The moment his command left his mouth, she was already guiding Raven down the hallway.
"Come on," she whispered urgently. "Before he changes his mind."
Raven didn't answer.
Her body moved, but her mind didn't fully agree with it.
Each step felt heavier than the last, not because of weakness alone, but because something in the house had changed the moment those people walked in.
Cyprian had said his room.
That was the only place he had said they could go.
Safe.
Or what passed for safe in this house.
But Raven didn't feel safe anywhere anymore.
They reached the corridor leading to his room, but Claire didn't stop.
She kept walking past it.
Raven frowned slightly.
"Claire…"
"Just for a second," Claire whispered back. "We need to see what's happening."
Raven hesitated.
"No," she said immediately. "He said stay in the room."
Claire grabbed her hand gently but firmly.
"And you think we're just going to sit there not knowing who those people are?"
Raven didn't respond.
Because she didn't know anymore.
That was the problem.
Slowly, reluctantly, she allowed herself to be pulled toward the stairs again.
Not fully down.
Just enough to see.
They crouched slightly behind the railing, hidden by the curve of the staircase.
Below them, the foyer looked sharper now.
Colder.
Like the air had been compressed.
Cyprian stood in the center.
But he didn't look like the one in control anymore.
Not fully.
He was being questioned.
And Raven could see it in the way he stood … still straight, still composed … but something restrained beneath it.
Something careful.
The man opposite him spoke again, slow and deliberate.
"You keep avoiding the question."
Cyprian didn't respond immediately.
That pause alone felt dangerous.
The woman beside the man stepped slightly forward.
"It's a simple question," she said. "Where is she?"
Raven's breath caught slightly.
Claire leaned closer.
"Is he talking about you…?"
Raven didn't answer.
Because Cyprian's silence was already answering for him.
The man's voice dropped.
"You brought someone into your house and you cannot account for her movement?"
Cyprian finally spoke.
"She is not part of this conversation."
The woman's expression tightened slightly.
"That is not your decision."
The air in the foyer shifted.
Not loudly.
But enough to feel like pressure.
Cyprian took a small step forward.
And for the first time, Raven saw it clearly.
Not fear.
Not weakness.
But restraint.
Controlled restraint.
Like he was holding something back from breaking.
Something about that made her chest tighten.
Claire whispered again.
"He's scared of them…"
Raven looked at her sharply.
"Cyprian?"
Claire nodded slightly.
"He's not acting like himself."
Below, the man tilted his head slightly.
"You've always been careful," he said. "But this… this is different."
Cyprian's jaw tightened.
"Enough."
But the woman ignored him completely.
"I want her here," she said.
Not request.
Demand.
Silence followed instantly.
Then…
Cyprian's voice dropped lower.
"You will not enter my private spaces without permission."
The man's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Your private spaces are not separate from your responsibilities."
That sentence landed heavier than the others.
Raven felt it even from above.
Cyprian didn't respond immediately.
And in that silence…
Claire shifted slightly.
The rail creaked faintly under her hand.
Too faint.
But not invisible.
Raven froze instantly.
Cyprian's head lifted slightly.
Not fully.
Just enough.
A warning.
Raven's heart dropped.
Claire tensed.
"Don't move," Claire whispered quickly.
But it was already too late.
The woman below turned her head slowly.
Up.
Directly toward the staircase.
Raven felt it instantly.
Like being caught without being seen fully.
Her breath hitched slightly.
And that small sound….
it betrayed them.
Every head in the foyer turned upward at once.
Silence snapped shut like a lock.
Cyprian's eyes met Raven's immediately.
Something in his expression changed.
Not surprise.
Something tighter.
More controlled.
Like he had been trying to prevent exactly this.
"Raven," he said sharply.
But the moment her name left his mouth…
the woman moved.
Fast.
Not rushed.
Intentional.
She walked directly toward the staircase.
Every step measured.
Every step heavier than the last.
Claire instinctively moved in front of Raven slightly.
But it didn't matter.
The woman stopped at the base of the stairs.
Looked up.
And said, very calmly…
"Which one of you is his wife?"
The word landed like something sharp.
Not curiosity.
Inspection.
Disgust layered underneath it.
Raven felt it immediately.
Claire stiffened beside her.
But the woman wasn't done.
Her eyes moved between them slowly.
"Aside from emotions," she added, voice colder now, "I want to know who carries his name legally."
Silence.
Raven didn't answer.
Claire didn't either.
Because something about the woman's presence made it feel like answering incorrectly would be dangerous.
Below, Cyprian stepped forward slightly.
"Stop this," he said lowly.
But the woman didn't look at him.
Not anymore.
Her attention stayed locked upward.
Waiting.
Watching.
Then she said again…
"Who is pregnant?"
That question changed the air completely.
Raven felt it before she understood it.
Claire tensed beside her instantly.
And Cyprian's expression hardened sharply.
"Enough," he said again.
But the woman's gaze sharpened.
"I will not repeat myself."
Silence dropped.
Heavy.
Final.
Raven's hand slowly moved to her stomach without thinking.
And that small movement…
was enough.
The woman saw it.
Instantly.
Her eyes locked on Raven with precision.
Not warmth.
Not softness.
Recognition sharpened into confirmation.
And then..,
quietly, almost disgusted…
"It's you."