Chapter 111

• Damien stepped out of the restaurant, the air outside was cool and refreshing, a stark contrast to the tension that had simmered at the table. He and Esther walked side by side, but the silence hung heavy between them, each lost in their own thoughts. It was a momentary calm, a fragile precipice before the storm that loomed on the horizon.
• As they stepped onto the bustling sidewalk, Damien spotted a familiar figure in the distance: Charlotte. Beside her stood a small boy with tousled hair, his eyes wide with enthusiasm as he bounced on his heels. The sight of them sent a shock of adrenaline through Damien, a thrill that quickly morphed into confusion as he stirred sharper memories of their time together.
• “Charlotte?” he called, instinctively taking a step forward.