Before Shirley could finish speaking, she stopped.

Madeline heard footsteps approaching her from behind, and the temperature of Shirley’s hand that was holding her plummeted as if she was frightened.

Madeline, realizing something was off, so she turned her head to take a look.

Shirley’s hand that was holding Madeline’s hand fell slowly, and she murmured inaudibly. In the end, she did not say the final words. “You…”

Madeline could vaguely hear Shirley mumbling a word, but she could not hear i