Clara's eyes followed the woman's every movement.
She recognized her instantly, the same woman she had just Googled hours ago.
Joan.
Axiel, sweet and polite as always, waved.
"Hi, Aunt Joan!"
Joan's gaze flickered to him — a brief softening — before she turned her attention back to Ethan.
"Ethan, I'm sorry to interrupt," she said smoothly. "But you left before signing this. The changes need to be made today for the engineers to begin work."
Ethan stood, jaw tightening.
"This isn't a good time, Joan."
She blinked, stiffening but recovering quickly.
"These approvals are urgent—"
"Then push the work one day," Ethan cut in.
"And pay everyone for tomorrow. I'll read that tonight and sign it."
The silence that followed was sharp.
Joan nodded—forced, controlled—as she passed him the file.
But she didn't leave.
Not yet.
Her eyes lingered on Ethan.
Then on Clara.
Assessing. Calculating.
Finally, she stepped back.
"Of course. Let me know if you need anything."
