As Atticus reached the burial grounds of the Ravenstein estate, he spotted a broad figure standing at the entrance.
Nate Ravenstein.
Nate stood like a statue, his gaze fixed on the burial entrance, lost and distant. Even when Atticus moved to stand beside him, he didn't react.
He only stared, as if nothing else in the world mattered anymore.
Atticus didn't speak. The only sounds were the soft whisper of the breeze and the dry rustle of fallen leaves scraping against the stone.
After several seconds, Nate sighed heavily.
"Atticus."
Atticus's eyes remained forward. "Yeah?"
"Was there… was there nothing you could've done to save him?" Nate asked with a cracking voice.
"No."
Nate's lips pressed into a line. "It's just that… you're the most incredible person I know. If anyone could've stopped him, I can't help but believe it would've been you."
"If I knew what he was going to do," Atticus said, voice glacier, "I would've killed him."
