"Okay… Okay, please slap me. I'm dreaming, right?"
Katherine blinked, her eyebrows furrowing slightly as she processed the words that had just slipped from Claudio's mouth. She almost laughed, but it came out more as a nervous, awkward smile instead. Her eyes darted briefly to Paula, who was still standing beside him
But Paula, equally stunned, gave him a light shove and whispered back, her voice trembling, "If anyone needs to be slapped, it's me. That's—Katherine…"
Katherine couldn't help the chuckle that slipped past her lips. It was light, amused, almost teasing. "Hi," she said, offering them a small wave.
Both Claudio and Paula flinched as if the sound of her voice made her even more real.
Claudio blinked fast, his mouth parting in disbelief. "Oh my God. She's… talking."
Katherine tilted her head slightly, smiling more now. "Yes. I'm real. Not a ghost. Promise."