CHAPTER THIRTEEN – THE LETTER THAT ARRIVED ONE YEAR LATER
One year passed.
The Hawthorne estate no longer felt like a mansion filled with strangers.
It felt like a home.
Every morning, Ethan, Noah, and Liam raced downstairs, arguing about who would help Emily make breakfast.
Richard had changed too.
He attended every school event.
He never missed another bedtime story.
His company continued to grow, but for the first time in his life, success no longer came before family.
The nightmare seemed over.
Until one rainy Tuesday afternoon.
A plain white envelope arrived with no return address.
Only four words were written on the front.
For Emily Carter Alone.
She opened it carefully.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed Charles Hawthorne.
Alive.
The picture had been taken only days earlier.
On the back, someone had handwritten a message.
You believed the story was over.
It hasn't even begun.
Emily's hands began to tremble.
A folded map slipped from the envelope.
One location had been circled in red.
Blackwood Island.
At the bottom was one final sentence.
Come alone if you want the truth about Liam.
Emily immediately hid the letter as Richard walked into the room.
"What is it?"
She forced a smile.
"Nothing."
May you like
But for the first time since Charles disappeared...
She lied.
