Chapter 480
Julie's point of view
In that suffocating spell of silence, the faint, hesitant sound of weight shifting on the wooden staircase cut through the air.
Harold descended the steps slowly, his hands buried deep inside his trouser pockets, trembling visibly. His features looked even paler than before, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the dark floorboards as if carrying the weight of total defeat. He halted at the base of the landing, leaning his shoulder heavily against the carved banister.
"Maily locked the door..." His voice came out low and broken, rasped with strain. He wiped a unsteady hand across his forehead before looking up at us. "...and... Ethan is starting to calm down a bit."
He swallowed hard, his throat making a strained sound in the quiet space. "She pulled the blankets over his face, and he's holding her hand now... he won't let go."
The words poured into my chest like molten copper. My ribs constricted tightly, taking my breath away.
