Chapter 33 Falling

• The mortified look on Iris's face was unmistakable. She froze in her spot, her expression blank and stiff, but her eyes betrayed a storm of emotions. Her face contorted into a trembling mask of disbelief, her lips quivered as if struggling to form words, and her tongue felt heavy, locked within her mouth, unable to utter a single syllable. In that moment, if it wasn't already known, one could have mistaken Iris for the mute one, not Autumn.
• A nervous, almost humorless scoff escaped Iris's lips, a hollow sound that carried no mirth. Her gaze, sharp and frantic, was fixed on Ivan.
• "T-That's not the entire thing. S-She's lying to your face, Ivan," she stammered, her voice wavering as her lips quivered, curling into a desperate pout.