41

Silver spears of moonlight stretched across the red carpet of Trevino Manor, painting the empty halls in a quiet glow. The manor was still, its usual grandeur swallowed by the late hour—until hurried footsteps shattered the silence.

A streak of orange cut through the dim corridors, Solaine's breath coming in short, uneven bursts as he stormed toward his father's office. His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms, frustration bubbling beneath his skin.

He didn't knock.

"Father!" Solaine's voice rang out as he pushed open the heavy wooden doors with enough force to send papers fluttering from the desk. Trinkets clattered to the floor, yet the man seated behind the desk barely reacted.

Earl Trevino merely glanced up, his sharp, knowing gaze meeting his son's with a flicker of amusement.