The house was still. Too still. The silence had stretched on for days, filling every corner with an oppressive weight that Alexander couldn't shake off. As he sat at the kitchen table, staring at the untouched glass of whiskey in front of him, the reality he had been trying to deny came crashing down with full force.
"So it's true… Elizabeth was kidn*pped," he mumbled, barely recognizing his own voice. His hands, trembling, reached for the glass, but he stopped short, letting his fingers hover over it. What good would it do? What comfort would it bring? Nothing could dull the ache in his chest, the weight pressing down on him like an anchor, dragging him into despair.
*I couldn't protect her again.* The thought clawed at his insides, tearing him apart with every passing minute. Thi
