Chloe took a long, shaky breath, feeling the crushing weight of the morning finally begin to dissipate. She managed a small, weary smile for Lyra. "I’m alright now. Let’s head inside."
Upon entering the Nicholas estate, a maid informed them that Nora was still in bed. She asked them to wait in the living room while she went to check on her.
As they sat there, Justin’s younger sister, Xixi, came downstairs. She looked pale and distracted, giving them a brief, hollow greeting before hurrying out the door, her mind clearly elsewhere.
Before Chloe could even process Xixi’s strange behavior, the front door burst open. Nicholas stormed in. He didn't even notice Chloe or Lyra sitting in the lounge; his face was a mask of thunderous rage as he sprinted up the stairs.
A moment later, a deafenin
