The Lane estate was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, which made Amelia's scream all the more jarring. Her voice cut through the silence, echoing off the walls and sending a chill through everyone in the house.

She sounded terrified, almost frantic. The chess piece Kevin Lane had been holding slipped from his fingers and hit the table. The butler, who stood beside him, went ghostly pale and glanced quickly toward the source of the noise.

"What's going on?"

All over the estate, maids stopped what they were doing and hurried to the living room, eyes turning to the upstairs landing.

Kevin's expression darkened. He knew that voice. Under his breath, he muttered, "Always making a fuss," and gestured for the butler to help him up.

He'd barely left his chair when Amelia came running out of Dennis's room, clutching a piece of paper and a small bottle. Her face was white with panic, eyes brimming with tears as she looked toward Kevin.

"Grandpa, something happened to Dennis!"

Kevin's brows drew together. "What is it?" His voice was sharp.

Amelia held up the bottle, shaking. "Dennis took sleeping pills. I can't wake him up. I think... I think he tried to kill himself."

For a second, Kevin couldn't process the words. Dennis. Suicide. He had never imagined those two things together.

Everything went blurry, and Kevin almost collapsed. The butler caught him just in time.

A few shaky breaths later, Kevin found his voice. "Call the hospital. Hurry."

The butler snapped to attention. "Right away, sir.” He turned to the nearest maid. "Get the hospital on the phone, now!"

Kevin moved unsteadily, leaning on the butler as they headed for the stairs.

Amelia was frozen, unable to think, until Ethan came bursting out of his room. He didn't stop to ask questions. He rushed into Dennis's room and came out carrying Dennis in his arms.

"Don't just stand there!" Ethan shouted at Amelia. "Come on, we need to go."

That snapped her out of it. She nodded, stumbling after him as they hurried downstairs.

Kevin hadn't even made it up the staircase before Ethan met him at the bottom. Kevin's lips pressed tightly together as he stared at Dennis.

The house was in chaos, but Dennis was completely still in Ethan's arms, face peaceful, not even a twitch. His arm hung limply at his side.

He wasn't pretending.

Kevin reached out with a trembling hand and took hold of Dennis's little fingers. He tried to speak, but nothing came out at first.

After a few painful seconds, he managed a whisper. “Dennis? Dennis, wake up. Can you open your eyes and look at me? Please, Dennis."

Amelia caught sight of the deep lines on Kevin's face and felt her own eyes sting with tears. She turned away, her voice barely steady "Grandpa, he took too much He's not waking up. We need to get him to the hospital."

Kevin didn't answer. He just kept calling Dennis's name, his voice growing more desperate. é desperate Dennis Grandpa's here. Open your eyes for me. Dennis... Dennis..."

He shook Dennis's hand, then his shoulder, but there was no response.

Dennis's head lolled to one side, almost slipping from Ethan's hold.

Ethan quickly shifted, cradling Dennis more securely.

Still, Dennis didn't stir.

The sight was too much. Kevin's eyes rolled back and he went limp, collapsing into the butlers arms The butler barely managed to keep him upright, struggling under the weight.

Amelia's face went white as a sheet. She met Ethan's eyes, and for a moment,

neither of them could hide the fear written all over their faces.