Sunset is a law of nature, but similarly, so is sunrise, something no one can stop.
——Arthur Hastings, "Fifty Years of Life"
Victoria almost instinctively rushed over, kneeled beside Elphinstone, but the next second, she suddenly became aware of several gazes piercing into her back.
At that moment, her expression changed from astonishment to disbelief, then instantly flushed, her eyes flashing with anger, shame, panic, and an unspeakable worry and fear.
She instinctively took a half step back but stumbled over Elphinstone's boots.
"You..." Her voice trembled: "Do you know what you've done?"
The two plainclothes officers clearly didn't expect this reaction from her. Hoot still wanted to step closer with a smile, but was immediately pulled back by Colley, who used his elbow to firmly press against Hoot's chest, seemingly also realizing something was amiss.
