Chapter 464:- Aftermath [I]; Conflicted Emotions

"Brother, is it just me or does something seem really off around the dining table?" Little Clara whispered to her big brother Leo, casting suspicious glances at the assembled faces around the table. Unaware that the enhanced senses of the others allowed them to eavesdrop on her quiet inquiry, Clara's curiosity was piqued by the strange, awkward atmosphere that seemed to permeate the room.

The very moment her words escaped her lips, a palpable shift occurred at the table. The six individuals most implicated in the previous night's escapade lowered their heads further, hiding the flush on their cheeks. There were no words spoken in response, only the shuffling of feet and the anxious clinking of utensils. Everyone pretended not to hear, a collective silence that screamed louder than words. Clara's innocent question had inadvertently poked at a sore spot, causing embarrassment to simmer even more fervently.