Chapter 21 The Sudden Attack

• **The Next Morning**
• The morning sun crept through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Liam, always an early riser, was already up and full of energy. His laughter and excitement filled the air as he made his way around the room, trying to wake Derrick and me. I couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, feeling a pang of warmth despite the troubling events of the previous day.
• I gently shook Derrick awake. “Good morning, love,” I whispered, my voice soft but insistent.