Matthew's POV
"Lizzy, we need to go," I uttered urgently, my fingers swiftly grasping the backpack Zac had carelessly dropped on the floor earlier. Lizzy, cradling baby Zia in her arms, silently trailed behind me, her steps mirroring the gravity of my tone.
As we moved, I couldn't help but glance back at the abandoned backpack, a tangible reminder of the unexpected turn our evening had taken. Lizzy's presence beside me provided a semblance of reassurance, but the weight of unspoken concerns lingered in the air.
"Hmm," I murmured, my words caught between clenched teeth, "Well, Dad insists that you and baby Zia join them at the mansion. It's for your safety, you know, so you're not alone tonight." The urgency in my voice matched the brisk pace of our retreat, each step echoing a blend of caution and unspoken understanding. The quiet night enveloped us, shadows lengthening as we made our way back to the waiting car, a beacon of both escape and sanctuary.
