And now, at sixteen… he was on his feet.
“Liam?” My voice came out like a crack in the air.
His hand gripped the edge of the counter, knuckles white, but his eyes locked onto mine.
“Dad,” he said quietly, “don’t yell. Don’t call anyone. Just listen.”
I stepped closer, afraid he’d collapse—but he grabbed my wrist with surprising strength.
“We need to leave this house. Right now.”
There was something in his voice… not panic, not confusion—certainty.
“What are you talking about?” I asked. “How are you even—”
“There’s no time,” he cut in. “She’s gone. This is our only chance.”