Chapter 42

• Jack's POV
• The boardroom buzzed with a tension so thick it felt suffocating. Samantha sat beside me, her posture straight, hands folded neatly in her lap, and her face calm. But I knew her well enough to see through the facade. Her knuckles were pale where they pressed against each other, and every so often, her eyes darted around the table, taking in the sea of judgmental stares. She wasn't used to this level of scrutiny-not like I was-and I hated that she had to face it because of Clara.
• Across the table, Clara lounged in her chair like she owned the place. Her perfectly painted nails tapped lightly on the table, the sound grating against my nerves. She had the look of someone who thought she had already won. Her gaze flicked toward Samantha, sharp and cold, and I felt a surge of anger burn through me.