He chuckled under his breath before releasing her.
Then his attention shifted to Ethan.
Sebastian reached out, ruffling the boy's hair lightly as he passed. The gesture seemed casual, almost affectionate, but carried an undercurrent of something else… a test, perhaps, or a claim.
Ethan didn't react. His body remained still, neither leaning into the touch nor pulling away. He didn't resist, but he didn't respond either. It was as if Sebastian's hand had passed through empty air.
Lucas didn't react outwardly, but his gaze had shifted completely, locking onto Ethan with an intensity that belied his calm exterior. He was observing, careful and calculating, reading every micro-expression on the boy's face.
Ethan walked to his seat with measured steps, each one deliberate and controlled. He sat down quietly, his posture rigid despite his small frame.
