Lily put on a dramatic act, stepping forward with trembling hands. "Please," she begged, voice quivering as she looked at Calvert. "Take me instead. Let my daughter go."
Her eyes shimmered with tears as if the thought of Aurora suffering in her place was too much to bear.
Veronica, meanwhile, began sobbing pitifully, grabbing onto her mother's sleeve. "No, Mom, please don't do this… you can't!" she cried out, her voice cracking just enough to sound real.
"He only wants to talk to Aurora. They're old acquaintances, that's all."
Calvert leaned back in his chair, amused. He studied Lily's display with lazy eyes before a knowing smirk tugged at his lips.
"Hmph. Looks to me like Lily doesn't really want to leave," he drawled, his tone oozing with sarcasm.
At his words, Lily flinched. Her lips trembled, and she let out a shaky breath as if she were being torn apart inside.
"I… I just don't want her to suffer," she whispered hoarsely, before dramatically collapsing to the floor.
