"It was Damien's own decision."
Celia's breath caught.
Her fingers, which had been resting idly against her armrest, stilled.
She blinked.
For the first time since this entire conversation had begun, her carefully constructed thoughts faltered.
What?
Victor, too, seemed momentarily thrown off. "What do you mean?" His voice sharpened. "Damien—"
But Dominic didn't give him the chance to finish.
"That is all you need to know."
The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Celia was still frozen, her mind looping over those words—Damien's own decision—when Dominic's voice cut through once more.
"And now, while we are at it, let me tell you something else."
There was a pause, deliberate, controlled, as if he were giving them the space to brace for the blow that was coming.
"I will no longer be sponsoring Everwyn Research Center."
Celia felt her father's body tense beside her.
"This deal is over."
