I never released my daughter for even a moment, remaining exactly where I stood while staring straight at all three of them.
Patricia stepped forward, lowering her voice into a dangerous whisper filled with quiet menace.
“Let us not make this situation any more unpleasant than it already is, Rachel,” she threatened.
“Our family has very powerful friends in the high courts, the local media, and the state government offices,” she added.
She invaded my personal space, carrying the unmistakable scent of expensive perfume mixed with something strangely rotten.
“Your military rank and your fancy ribbons do not impress people like us,” she said with a sneer.
Gregory flashed me another smug smile while casually adjusting his polished cufflinks.
“Just take your daughter home and be grateful that we are not currently suing her for total defamation of our family name,” he said.
I studied each one of them in silence, my expression staying perfectly blank and impossible to read.
