In the following ten minutes, the jewelry store remained calm, almost deceptively so. A couple of customers strolled in, their polite chatter mixing with the soft hum of classical music. They admired the displays, bought small trinkets, and left, their faces relaxed. Kiara barely noticed. She was lost in thought, imagining a life far from SilverMoore—a life where she could finally breathe freely.
The bell above the door chimed again, but Kiara didn’t bother looking up. She assumed it was another customer and continued staring blankly at the floor. The faint sound of footsteps approached the counter, and then Mr. Hermann’s voice pierced the quiet air. “Thank you for coming so quickly… That’s her, right there!” he said, his voice sharp and deliberate.