Recap,
Shelly frowned. "He knows? Knows what?"
Mercy's lips shook before the words finally came.
"About Bianca. He knows."
Silence.
Heavy. Suffocating.
Neither woman moved.
Both of them simply stood there, imagining what Benjamin Stridha would do next.
And somehow, the silence felt worse than any answer.
Shelly finally spoke, trying to reason through the fear.
"Good… we have until the burial to fear the worst."
Mercy looked at her like she had said something foolish.
"That's tomorrow. Look at the time—we only have hours. Hours, Shelly."
Her breathing grew uneven.
"It's over. I'm finished. I crossed Benjamin Stridha."
They exchanged pitiful glances, both knowing one truth:
Benjamin did not forgive.
Just then, Shelly's phone rang.
The sound made them both jump.
She looked at the screen.
Max.
For the first time that moment, hope touched her face.
"Maybe it's not over," she whispered. "Maximilian is here."
She answered quickly.
"Max—"
