Chapter 28

(THIRD POV)

Ethan and Lily sat on the edge of their beds, the silence between them thick and heavy, like a fog that refused to lift.

The emotion on their mother’s face few minutes ago, still hovered in their minds.

And the name “Caleb” hung in the air like a ghost neither of them could chase away.

Ethan’s eyes darted around their shared room, taking in the familiar sight of their light weight furniture.

The wooden dresser with a chipped corner, the faded pink wallpaper, a collage of childhood drawings pinned messily beside their small window.

A small bookshelf sat in the corner, overflowing with books they had read and reread, stories of pirates, wizards, and distant lands.

But today, none of these familiar things brought comfort.

Lily was the first to break the silence.

She swung her small legs back and forth, her tender hands gripping the edge of the mattress, her curly brow furrowed.

“Did you see her face when you asked about Caleb?”

she whispered, her voice low, almost a