Chapter 115
One Week Later
The snow kept falling endlessly, covering the world in a cold, unyielding silence. The wind pierced through the cracks of the old building, creating eerie whistles. Inside the small room, dimly lit by the flickering flames of a portable stove, three souls clung to what little strength they had left.
Karl stood by the frosted window, his gaze blank and his thoughts elsewhere. The creeping cold made everything feel frozen, but that wasn’t what truly bothered him. It had been a week since he and Layla got stuck in this situation. While they shared warmth to get by, there was an unspoken need between them—something deeper than just sharing blankets.
Jane, sitting on an old sofa with a worn blanket draped over her shoulders, watched Karl. She stayed quiet for a while but eventually sighed deeply.
"Sorry if I’m intruding," she said softly, trying to lighten the tension. "I know this must be hard for you two... a young couple like yourselves. If you want to, you know... do what couples do... I can just step into the closet or pretend I didn’t see anything."
Layla, curled up on the floor under a thick blanket, immediately turned red. She glanced at Jane, her expression a mix of shock and embarrassment.
"W-What are you talking about, Mrs. Jane?!" she exclaimed, her voice rising as she tried to hide her nerves.
Karl cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to keep his composure. He raised a hand as if to explain but ended up laughing nervously instead. "Mrs. Jane, it’s not... we’re not... like that."
Jane shrugged nonchalantly, though a faint smile tugged at her tired face. "Just saying, if you want to. I might be old, but I’m not deaf. I know what it’s like to be your age."
Layla pulled her blanket tighter around herself, almost hiding her entire face. Karl scratched the back of his head, staring at the ceiling as if it held all the answers. This situation was definitely unexpected.
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