Liam watched the whole exchange wordlessly, noticing how Clara’s fear was controlling her. Atlas stood perfectly still, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to Clara’s mounting hysteria. It was as if the dog was rooting her to something she desperately needed, but was too afraid to accept. She trembled but remained frozen.
For the first time, Clara seemed to hesitate. She was looking at the dog, without judgment, as a calm presence in the chaos she’d built. As Liam looked at her, she closed her gaping mouth, her eyes never once leaving Atlas’s almond orbs. Her hands seemed to be tapping her chest as if trying to still her heart.