The silence lasted another beat. Then two.
Then Sarah shattered it.
"Lilianna Gringer!" Sarah shouted, already on her feet.
Her floral pheromones spiked with relief, fury, and sisterly indignation. She crossed the living area quickly and grabbed Lilianna by the shoulders.
"You—do you have any idea—Mom and Dad have been—"
Lilianna blinked, her soft smile wavering. "Sarah, I—"
"Don't you 'Sarah' me!"
Sarah's grip tightened. Her eyes were glistening.
"Dad was in complete silent mode. Mom refused to eat dinner. They've been fighting all day everyday because of you! And I! I, who just came back for the weekends, have been stuck in the middle pretending I didn't want to tear my own hair out—"
"I'm sorry."
Lilianna's voice dropped, with quiet guilt. She placed her hand over Sarah's, and her expression changed into something gentle and apologetic.
"I really am, sister. I didn't mean to worry everyone."
