"Eve…"
Harry's voice cut through the air, sharp and undeniable. It sent a shiver down her spine, her head buzzing like a swarm of bees had invaded it.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, the world around them fading into nothing. Time itself seemed to hold its breath.
Then he spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Cassey… Is she my—"
Panic surged through Eve like a tidal wave. Her eyes widened in alarm.
Without hesitation, she grabbed Cassey's arm, her grip firm but gentle. "Let's go, sweetheart. You have school tomorrow. We need to go home."
She turned on her heel, pulling her daughter along. But Harry wasn't letting her slip away so easily.
His hand shot out, gripping her arm just as she passed him. "She told me she's eight… That's the exact amount of time since—"
"Stop." The word left Eve's lips in a sharp whisper, cutting through his sentence like a blade.
