Chapter 16

Staring at the blaze before him, James couldn't help but be reminded of the fire at the Payne residence from before. A vague sense of unease crept into his chest, prompting him to call Simon. However, the call didn't go through right away. Changing course, James redirected his destination toward the Payne residence. As the navigation system kicked in, he turned on some music. The moment the car's speaker played the introduction, Naomi instantly recognized the song. It was a children's lullaby—one that James used to sing to her whenever she cried as a child. He never sang on key, but his deep, warm voice had always made her feel safe. It was this warmth over the years that blurred her vision, leading her to foolishly believe she could stay with him forever. Wrapped in the song, Naomi finally found a fleeting moment of peace. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep. At that very moment, James received a call from Jocelyn. He answered half-heartedly, "Hello?" "James, I found a beauti