The knock on Lily's door came just after midnight.
Not loud.
Not urgent.
Yet somehow it made her heart race.
Because she already knew.
It was Lucas.
Only Lucas knocked like that.
Three steady knocks.
A pause.
Then one final knock.
As if giving her time to breathe before opening the door.
Unfortunately...
Breathing was already difficult.
The moment she opened it, she knew something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Lucas looked pale.
Exhausted.
The kind of exhausted that came from carrying information too heavy to hold alone.
"Lily."
His voice sounded strange.
Careful.
Almost nervous.
The sight immediately made her stomach tighten.
"What happened?"
Lucas hesitated.
Something he rarely did.
Then finally—
"You need to sit down."
The exact words from the previous chapter.
And
