Chapter 213 Swallowed Explanation

The room was enveloped in silence. Hot tears seeped silently into the fabric of Rhett's shirt, wetting his chest. Lila's shoulders shook uncontrollably as the adrenaline faded and the delayed terror finally washed over her, claiming her body. Rhett froze. The top of Lila's head brushed against his chin, her hair carrying the faint, clean scent of shampoo. His heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, the usually decisive man was at a loss. Rhett lifted his hand, letting it hover in mid-air for a second, before finally lowering it stiffly onto Lila's back. He patted her gently. "I was late, but you're safe now, Lila. We're safe." His voice was lower than usual, laced with a clumsy tenderness he was not even conscious of. Standing to the side, Elizabeth felt like the world's biggest third wheel. The awkwardness was so thick in the air that it was suffocating. She looked at the ceiling, then down at the thief tied up on the floor. She looked anywhere but at the two people tightly