Chapter 25. The Realisation

Poppy's POV

The air is thick with tension. My breaths come in shallow gasps, reflecting the erratic rhythm of my heart as I watch him pace the length of the grand hall, his boots thudding against the cold stone floor. Nathan's anger rolls off him in waves. His jaw clenches, sharp and unforgiving, as he rakes a hand through his dark hair.

"Poppy, tell me again," he demands, his voice a low growl that sends shivers down my spine- not of fear, but a twisted anticipation. "How did Ally escape with Elliot? And why didn't you stop it?"

I swallow hard, my nails digging crescents into my palms. "They were gone before dawn. They must have planned it during the night. I... I didn't see it coming, Nathan." My voice falters, a delicate balance between feigned innocence and the need to maintain my own standing in his eyes.

He stops pacing and turns on his heel, his gaze piercing me. "You let them make a fool out of me