The living room remained warmly lit, yet the atmosphere was suffocating, frozen in place.
Amelia sat huddled in the corner of the sofa, her entire body curled up, fingers clutching the edge so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her breath came in rapid gasps, as though she were drowning, something lodged in her throat that refused to come out.
Lan Qihan sat beside her with aching tenderness, placing a gentle hand on her back, her palm stroking in slow, soothing motions. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Don't rush… take your time. It's all right. You're safe here. With us, no one will hurt you."
Amelia trembled uncontrollably, her gaze flickering. Only after a long silence did her throat work, squeezing out a faint, quivering sound.
"That night… I saw…"
Her voice broke, her body sinking into the mire of memory. Lan Qihan pressed a little more firmly along her back, grounding her, coaxing gently.
