Chapter 291

"Miss Richards...!!" That one phrase hit like a bombshell. Viola froze in place. All eight of them: "........." The summer sun outside the pavilion was blazing, the cicadas were shrieking like crazy, and for a second, it was like someone hit pause on their little group. No one said a word. No one moved. Lillian still had the same cheerful expression she wore half a second earlier. They had no idea how long that awkward silence lasted. Julian was the first to snap out of it—and yeah, of course it'd have to be him. He kept calm and spoke up, "Mom." "Don't talk to her. We're leaving," Viola suddenly cut in and stepped out of the pavilion, not even flinching under the harsh sun. Claire: "..." She glanced at Julian. The rest of them just exchanged looks in silence. "Let’s go," Julian said, brushing it off like nothing had happened, "that monk over there’s probably here to guide us." He held Claire’s hand and led her out of the pavilion. And everyone else quietly followed along. Whether Viol