Dorothy doesn't turn around, but her pencil pauses briefly over her sketch, the only acknowledgment she offers. Her mind races with conflicting emotions: relief at finally speaking her truth, fear of what might come next, and beneath it all, a treacherous hope that refuses to be extinguished despite her best efforts.
As the door closes behind the three visitors, Dorothy releases a shuddering breath. She's alone now with the sketch that emerged from her pain, a physical manifestation of vulnerability that suddenly feels too raw to face.
Across the packhouse grounds, Magnus walks silently beside Ethan, acutely aware of his friend's sideways glances. The weight of the unspoken truth hangs between them, made heavier by years of friendship and loyalty.
"What's really going on?" Ethan finally
