Chapter 223

The next morning, the group gathered again. The room was thick with unspoken accusations and doubts about trust. Ethan felt the tension as he walked in, but he kept his face neutral. He knew they had all spent the night scheming, trying to figure out how to position themselves as the best choice for leadership. But he wasn’t worried. He had expected this.

They all took their seats around the table, the silence heavy as they waited for someone to speak. Gerald was the first to break the silence.

“We’ve all had time to think about this, and it’s clear this isn’t just about popularity,” Gerald began. “This is about survival. Honestly, I don’t care who leads, as long as they can get the job done.”

Rhys nodded, even though his expression was still guarded. “Agreed. But that’s the issue, isn’t it? Who can actually get the job done?”

Denera leaned forward. “We all know what this is really about. It’s not just about survival, as Gerald said—it’s about power. And I’m not about to hand that ove