Chapter 154: Secrets, Lies, and the Ties That Bind

Mariana and Tiago's eyes briefly met across the room, a silent exchange laden with unspoken tension. Mariana quickly averted her gaze, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to compose herself under Tiago's penetrating stare. Sensing the unease between them, Hailey hesitated before deciding to join Mariana, her steps cautious as she approached. As Hailey settled beside Mariana, Daphne found herself lost in thought, her mind drifting to her own past. She remembered the painful estrangement from her family, a consequence of their conflicting values and her staunch opposition to her father's unethical experiments. Despite her regret over isolating herself, Daphne remained resolute in her stance against her father's actions. She had hoped that her mother would intervene and put an end to her father's disturbing pursuits, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Her mother, blinded by loyalty or indifference, insisted that her father knew what he was doing. The memory of her family's i