Chapter 79

Nina's thin, frail shoulders trembled uncontrollably. It felt as though she had been swallowed whole by an endless darkness, her entire being buried beneath the suffocating weight of despair. Meanwhile, Shane returned to the Lawson residence. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Abigail seated on the couch. Upon hearing the door open, she turned toward him with a cold expression. "You've hidden Nina away, haven't you?" Though phrased as a question, her tone left no room for doubt. She had obviously heard the news from David. "No," Shane replied. Images of Nina's terrified, helpless face flashed through his mind—the way she had crumbled upon hearing that David had found her. The memory weighed heavily on his chest. After a moment's pause, he chose not to reveal the truth of their relationship. "I've simply arranged for her to stay elsewhere for the time being," he said calmly. "Simply arranged?" Abigail's eyes bore into him with unyielding intensity. Anxiety had taken its toll—he