Julia and Robert’s mind raced, the weight of what they had just witnessed pressing down on them. Their thoughts swirled—her desperate pleas, the children’s innocent faces, the trust they had extended. “Was it all a lie?” Robert muttered, his hands gripping the edge of the curtain.
A wave of anger surged, but beneath it lay a gnawing sense of regret. They had ignored their gut, dismissed the warnings, and now this. Yet, mixed with the fury was a deep sadness. The couple had wanted to believe in her, to do something good. But now, they simply felt foolish.
For several minutes, Robert remained by the window, staring into the empty street. The house was silent, but his mind buzzed with noise—questions, anger, and a crushing sense of betrayal. Finally, he turned away, his body heavy with the weight of the night’s events.