Chapter 21 Cracks Beneath the Surface

⸻

Jane stopped.

Mid-step. Her hand was already on the doorknob, her fingers wrapped around the cool metal-but something made her pause. The weight of their words hung heavy in the air, and she couldn't leave without one final word.

Her grip on her mother's hand tightened-firm, reassuring-then she turned back.

Slowly. Her movements delib