The echo of Haelyn's sobs as she wailed outside Beatrice's door seemed like a dull backdrop to Mark. A few minutes earlier, while the house was still gripped by Haelyn's panic over the eviction, Mark had moved silently through Beatrice's study.
Under the dim light of the desk lamp, Mark not only snatched Seren's pendant, but his sharp eyes also caught sight of a small bottle lying right next to a stack of insurance documents.
Mark recognized the bottle. Its shape, its unbranded label, and even the color of its cap were identical to the vitamin bottles Beatrice had handed to Seren every morning for the past three years. Without uttering a single word, Mark reached out, snatched the bottle, and slipped it into his jacket pocket.
Now, Mark stood staring at Beatrice, who was still frozen in the doorway of her room. Haelyn knelt at Beatrice's feet, her wrists visibly trembling as she pointed at Mark with hatred. Yet, Mark no longer looked like a man on the verge of collapse.
