Julian Hawthorne rubbed his hand, trying to mask his discomfort as he stumbled back a step. The pressure Liam had applied lingered, a throbbing reminder that this "nobody" wasn't as powerless as he appeared. I suppressed a smile, enjoying the sight of Julian's carefully constructed facade cracking.
"Before I go," I said, reaching into my pocket, "I wanted to give Isabelle something."
I pulled out the small wooden box containing the Hydrating Pill I had crafted earlier. It was simple, unadorned—nothing like the gaudy displays Julian seemed to favor.
"What is that?" Julian scoffed, recovering some of his composure. "A trinket from a street vendor?"
Isabelle accepted my gift with a genuine smile. "Thank you, Liam."
Julian's face twisted with contempt. "Wait," he said, snapping his fingers at one of his assistants. "I nearly forgot. I brought you a gift as well, Isabelle."
