The warm and relaxed tone Sarah had maintained throughout almost the entire conversation vanished as if it had never existed.
What remained was a serious expression, with that single eye fixed on Mark with an intensity that made him straighten up in the armchair by instinct.
"The condition is that you don't take Zilu with you."
Mark looked at her for a second and then let out a sigh.
"So she told you," Mark said, leaning back in the armchair.
Sarah nodded once.
"After explaining everything that happened to her," Sarah said without changing her serious expression, "she told me about the proposal you made her."
"…"
"She told me you offered to have her join your group," Sarah continued, crossing her arms. "And that she was planning to accept."
Mark looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
"And I…" Sarah paused and her jaw tightened slightly. "I didn't have the heart to oppose her wishes, at least not in front of her."
