The dining hall fell into an almost unnatural silence, as though the air had been sucked out of the room. No one dared to speak or even shift in their seats. The weight of Zylan's words hung thickly in the air, their echo still reverberating in the ears of everyone present.
Naomi's breath hitched, her eyes flicking toward Zylan. Even she hadn't anticipated his boldness. It was as if the words had come unbidden, driven by an inner force that cared little for pleasantries or decorum. The man she thought she understood continued to surprise her, leaving her both unsettled and intrigued.
Across the table, her father sat frozen, his face betraying the smallest flicker of something that might have been embarrassment or shame. For a man so accustomed to control, this was an unfamiliar position, and it showed. Finally, he cleared his throat, his voice strained yet formal.
"I'm very sorry about that, Mr. Zylan. I apologize."