The chapel fell into a suffocating silence as Seron and Acacia moved closer. Acacia's sympathy was like a coat of slime, it was fake, oily, and designed to provoke.
"Oh, Ruby," Acacia cooed, her hand fluttering to her chest. "We truly are so sorry. I can't believe you lost your mother... especially just as Seron is about to bring a new life into this world."
The implication hit the room like a physical blow. Acacia wasn't just there to mourn; she was there to flaunt her pregnancy to show Ruby that while one life had ended, her own "new beginning" with Seron was flourishing.
Ruby's vision tunneled. The sound of the cameras, the whispers of the guests, and the grief in her chest merged into a single, white-hot roar.
"Leave," Max spat, his voice vibrating with a lethal edge. He stepped in front of Ruby, shielding her. "Take this... thing... with you and get out of here, Seron. Now."
But it was too late. The switch had been flipped.
