Chapter 61

Skye's immediate refusal left me standing there without needing to utter a single word. A moment ago, Yaeger had zeroed in on me, putting me in the hot seat. But with Lisa stepping in and taking control, I was off the hook. As she said, the Heron family could cover this small expense, leaving me out of it entirely. Yaeger's face darkened with frustration, but he was powerless to counter her. "Well, if that's how it's going to be… forget it," he said, his voice taut. "I have other things to deal with." His mood soured further as he dragged Lilith along, her protests falling on deaf ears. "Dad, this jerk still hasn't agreed to come back with me! I—" "Enough!" Yaeger cut her off sharply. "We'll settle this later." He hauled Lilith away, leaving her to shoot us both a venomous glare. "You'll pay for this!" she spat as they disappeared from view. Once they were gone, the tension in the room began to ease. "Ladies and gentlemen," Lisa announced, her voice smooth and reassuring as