The name hit the room like a stone dropped into still water.
"Even if I sent that video to every network in every realm." Maria continued. "None of you would dare touch me. Because I'm still Mika's closest friend. And before you do anything to me, you'd have to ask him first."
Her smile sharpened.
"And if Mika ever found out something bad happened to me, something caused by one of you—well. You can only imagine how he'd react."
The three sisters exchanged glances.
And immediately Astrid's aura flickered and died. Charlotte's face lost some of its color. Even Anya's smile faded, replaced by a thoughtful frown.
Because she was right.
Provoking Mika's anger, especially over something like this was not a path any of them wanted to walk. Not ever.
The memories of what happened in the past were still too fresh, too vivid.
Nuri, oblivious to the tension, beamed up at Maria.
