Chapter 15: Crosswell Dominion Arrival

Nathaniel Crosswell entered Whitmore Foundation Hall without announcement.

He did not need one.

The shift preceded him. Conversations softened. Laughter recalibrated. People adjusted their posture as if reminded of rules they had not realized they were breaking.

Lillian felt it before she saw him.

The air tightened. Not with fear. With alignment.

She stood near the installation boards, reviewing final placement notes with a coordinator whose voice had grown increasingly cautious over the last ten minutes. The woman stopped speaking mid sentence, eyes flicking toward the entrance.

“He’s here,” someone murmured.

Nathaniel crossed the threshold with measured steps, dark suit immaculate, expression neutral to the point of severity. Lucas Vale followed at a respectful distance, already scanning the room with practiced efficiency.

Nathaniel did not look immediately toward Beatrice.

He surveyed the space first. The arrangement of people. Who stood close to whom. Who turned too quickly. Who d