ERIC'S SIDE – DEVIS HOUSE
Eric's eyes remained fixed on Amber. That simple sentence she had just spoken was still echoing in his mind.
A few words, yet they felt like a torment he had carried for years. Memories of Edy flooded back—how every moment Eric had spent with Justin was tainted by abusive words, cruelty, and manipulation. Edy had always targeted Justin, and by extension, Eric had absorbed that fear and guilt.
Amber: 😊
"What happened, Eric?"
Eric's voice trembled, almost a whisper:
Eric: 🥲
"You… you won't leave us, right?"
For a heartbeat, the room fell silent. Everyone understood the weight of his question. Even though the truth was now revealed, Amber had still prepared everything to leave. She could have stopped the plan at any moment… but she hadn't.
Nattalie: 😊
"Sis…"
Amber looked at her, blinking slowly, her eyes softening.
Amber: 😶
Nattalie: 😊
"It's me, sis. I'm back to normal!"
Amber's expression shifted from reserved to a genuine smile. She stepped forward and hugged Nattalie tightly, the warmth between them like a spark in the cold tension of the room.
Amber: 🥰
"So, the savage queen is finally back on her parade, huh?" 😎
Nattalie: 😊
"Yep."
Lussy: 😶
"Aunt…"
Amber: 😊
"Huh?"
Lussy: 😶
"Are we leaving?"
Amber:
"Yeah," she said casually, without thinking, glancing at Nattalie.
A wave of realization hit everyone.
Everyone: 😱
Nattalie: 😶
"When, Aunt?"
Amber: 😊
"In two days."
The room fell into an unusual quiet. Everyone's attention shifted to Nattalie, the only person from William House who was truly unaware of the chaos that had just unfolded. She had no memory of the past, and for now, everything seemed normal to her.
Lussy: 😶
Thomas: 😶
Emily: 😶
Eric: 😶
Jonathan: 🥺
Amber, still holding Nattalie's hand lightly, looked around at everyone. Her gaze was calm, yet there was a quiet firmness that reminded them all—she was the anchor, the one who held the family together.
Even in silence, Eric felt it in his chest—this was Amber, his mother, his guardian, and the one who had never truly left him.
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