Lionel stood frozen just beyond the ajar door, every word he wasn’t meant to hear slicing through him like broken glass. The world blurred around him. He didn’t even realize he was gripping the doorframe until his knuckles turned white. Something between a scream and a sob clawed up his throat, but it stayed buried under layers of disbelief.

Katherine’s voice was calm—too calm. She spoke of death like she’d made peace with it. Like it was just another enemy she’d learned to endure. But Lionel? He felt like the earth had opened beneath his feet.