"I won't force you into anything," Ariella said, her voice steady but laced with a quiet edge. "If you want to back out of the deal, that's fine. Take your time, find a suitable home, help Theo with the daily chores—that can be your payment. But I'll be blunt: I'd be disappointed."
Rani's eyes narrowed, cutting through the pause like a blade. "Why? You still haven't explained why you're so fixated on running these tests on him. Can't you find someone else? If you're studying the virus, wouldn't live zombies be better suited for your research?"
Ariella's holographic interface flickered, transferring seamlessly from the wall to a sleek drone that hummed as it drifted closer, granting her a mobile presence. "Do you really not know the answer to that, Rani? We both understand more about each other than we let on. Hiding it is one thing—feigning ignorance is another. But since I promised transparency, I'll give you the truth you're fishing for."
