The tension in the air was suffocating. My hand still tingled from the force of the slap I'd just delivered to Miles Thornton's face. The echo seemed to hang in the air as shocked silence gripped the room.
Alistair Northwood rushed forward, positioning himself between Miles and me. His eyes were wide with alarm.
"Liam, stop! You don't understand what you're doing," Alistair hissed, keeping his voice low but urgent. "The Thornton family isn't someone you want to provoke."
William Vance appeared at my other side, his normally composed demeanor cracking under stress. "He's right. The Thorntons practically own half of Eldoria. They've destroyed people for far less."
I kept my gaze fixed on Miles, who was still holding his reddening cheek, shock giving way to fury in his eyes.
"Do you know who I am?" Miles finally spluttered, his voice trembling with rage. "My father will—"
"Your father will what?" I cut him off. "Send more of his lackeys to steal from me?"
