She rested her trembling hands on the table, gripping the edge to stop them from shaking so violently. Her heart pounded as the silence closed in around her. Alone in the room, Kiara felt utterly adrift. The walls seemed to press closer, and the weight of the unknown crushed her. She felt like a child lost in a maze, every turn leading deeper into confusion and fear.
After a few agonizing minutes, the door to the interrogation room creaked open, and an officer stepped inside. He was middle-aged, with a stern face and piercing eyes that seemed to study Kiara’s every movement. He sat across from her, a file in hand, and wasted no time getting to the point. “Let’s talk about the ring,” he said flatly.