At that moment the room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. The weight of Raymond's threat hung thick in the air, suffocating everyone in its grip.
Then—a sharp, thunderous slam echoed through the space.
Valentina's father had slammed his palm against the table, his face twisted with fury.
"You insolent fool!" he barked, his voice trembling with rage.
"Who do you think you are?! How dare you spew such nonsense in my house?!"
His entire body shook with anger, his chest heaving.
"Just because I invited you here does not mean you have the right to disrespect our guest! Do you have no shame, no manners?!"
Sebastian, who had been standing there still reeling from the humiliation, finally lifted his chin, his face unreadable.
He wanted to lash out, to say something—anything—but Raymond's words had already cut him too deep to react immediately.