Chapter 63

Clair’s throat felt knotted, a suffocating pressure building as she stared at the man before her—her father. Yet, in that moment, he felt more like a stranger, a terrifying figure whose presence made her skin crawl as if insects were skittering across her flesh. Every instinct screamed at her to leave, to run as far away as possible, but his chilling gaze pinned her in place, rendering her immobile.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Knock, knock, knock."

His gaze shifted toward the door, where a maid timidly peeked in, her voice trembling with fear. "Master, the lady woke up," she reported in a small, terrified voice.

Clair’s head snapped around with lightning speed at the mention of her mother. She jumped up, her only thought to rush to her mother’s side, but before she could make a move, Reza’s hand reached out and grabbed a tall wine bottle from the table. The very bottle the two men had just drunk from moments earlier. He clutched it tightly as he