Chapter 18

• Clark
• By the time I got home, exhaustion had taken its toll. The day had been long and filled with tension, and I could feel the weight of it bearing down on me. I headed straight for the dining room, the faint clatter of dishes and silverware guiding me.
• As I approached, the scene before me felt like something out of a bad drama. Emerson sat at the head of the table, staring blankly at his plate, while Raven, across from him, toyed with her food in silence. Lila, of course, was seated nearby, her presence a constant thorn in my side. The quiet was heavy, and I could feel the tension the moment I stepped into the room.