hia's heart thudded. The boy's small hand still trembled in hers, sticky w

barked. "Step away from

pen. "He had a knife," he

repeated, moving closer

thes and cracked knuckles. The torches bobbed like angry stars. To these men, Lucas already looked guilty. In court,

hard. "It was

er blinke

ophia said louder. "I

, stunned. "

. "If you love me,

his face. He opened his m

ved in. "Miss,

l closed around them. She kept her eyes on Lucas. "Promis

he said, his

the boy's fingers still clutched his sleeve. She wondered if he'd still be there tomorrow or if he would vani

to stop herself from crying too. Her shoes slipped on the wet grass. She thought of the recital hall fu

r slammed.

-

trembling. "She didn't do anything," h

ad. "She confessed, son. And

e world. Lucas stroked his hair, murmuring nonsense. When the paramedic finally took the child from his arms, his fin

of the cordon, his face p

. "She took the blame," he said. "S

ll

h was dry. "

words echoed in his head - If you love me, don't say anything. A promise began to form in his chest like a fist. He clen

r the river. This had been their place, their secret. Now it felt like a gal

-

"...Miss Sophia Kingston, daughter of prominent businessman Henry Kingston, was arrested late

egs, eyes bright. "She's my age, Mama. She

nk. "Of course she's scared," she

r head. "You sound

ack quickly. "Eat

" Isabelle murmure

Sometimes bravery costs more t

it to her chest, whispering a name she hadn't spoken in years. "Elena..."She pressed the photo to her lips. Not a night h

-

made her choice, but now the weight of it pressed down on her chest. She pictured Luca

. The door opened. Mr. Kingston

said in relief. "

've disgraced this family," he said qu

"You're going to ge

lawyer. "We'll see

ead he buttoned his coat. The air in the cell felt colder. "F

pty spot where she had been led away. He clenched the torn scholarship flyer in h