登入Shawn stood motionless beside the road.The woman several yards away looked familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. More than twenty years had passed since he'd last seen her, but not enough to erase recognition.He knew who she was the moment he saw her."Selene."The name left his lips in a whisper. She stopped. Neither moved.Shawn had imagined this meeting countless times. Now that she was standing in front of him, every prepared word vanished.Selene looked just as uncertain. They stood facing each other in silence, separated by only a few steps and years of misunderstanding.Finally, she spoke."Shawn."One word carried the weight of two decades.He released a slow breath."I wasn't sure it was really you."A faint smile touched her lips."I almost turned around."His eyebrows lifted."You did?"She nodded."For a moment."The silence returned. It wasn't uncomf
Richard Vale sat alone in his office, the glow of his laptop reflecting against the glass walls behind him.Outside, the city skyline shimmered beneath the fading light, but he barely noticed it. His attention remained fixed on the voice coming through his phone."Aria Montclair went to Ravensford," his informant said.Richard straightened."Ravensford?""Yes. She met with a man named Gabriel Frye."The name immediately caught his attention."Gabriel Frye," Richard repeated."He's connected to the trust."The call ended a few moments later, leaving Richard alone with a growing sense of unease.Gabriel Frye.Ravensford.The trust.For months, pieces of information had surfaced without forming a complete picture. Now, for the first time, several of those pieces appeared connected.Richard leaned back in his chair.If Gabriel was involved in managing Selene's trust, he likely knew things th
The woman watched Shawn and Aria from across the sitting room, her expression calm but observant. She could see the disappointment settling over them before either said a word. Whatever they had expected to find in Ravensford, it clearly wasn't her.A faint smile touched her lips.“You look disappointed,” she said.No one answered.“You were expecting someone else.”The observation was gentle rather than confrontational, but it landed exactly where she intended.Shawn met her gaze. “How are you connected to Selene Laurent?”The woman showed no reaction to the name.“I met her years ago when she first came to Ravensford,” she said. “She didn't know anyone here. Over time, we became friends. She trusted me.”Aria leaned forward slightly. “Then why is your name connected to the trust?”The woman glanced briefly toward Gabriel, who stood near the wi
Shawn stood at the farmhouse gate with Aria and Adrian. Before anyone could knock, a voice called from inside.“I was beginning to wonder when the two of you would finally arrive.”They turned.A man stood near the farmhouse, dressed simply and carrying the calm confidence of someone neither surprised nor concerned by their presence.Before anyone could speak, he introduced himself.“Gabriel Frye.”The name immediately caught Aria’s attention.She had seen it repeatedly during her investigation, on trust documents, financial records, and property filings connected to the assets her mother had left behind. Gabriel Frye was the man who had managed Selene’s trusts and investments for decades.Shawn stepped forward. “You’re Gabriel Frye?”“I am.”“Then we need answers.”Gabriel studied Shawn and Aria for a moment before nodding. &ldqu
Back in Ashbourne, Alessia called Nolan.He answered on the second ring. "What now?""Nolan."His teasing tone disappeared. "What happened?""Have you found anything?""A few things," he said. "Nothing solid enough to act on yet."Alessia hesitated before continuing. "I need to talk to you about my mother too."A brief pause followed."What about her?""I went back to Blackthorne.""And?""The answers I got didn't make sense."Nolan was silent for a moment."Can I come to your office?" she asked. "My father is paying attention to everything I do. If anyone asks, I'll say it's a business meeting."He checked the time. "You've got a few minutes."An hour later, Alessia sat across from him in his office.Nolan studied her face. "You look exhausted.""I am.""Then start from the beginning."Alessia told him everything, the visit to Blackthorne, her mother'
Late that afternoon, Gabriel returned to the farmhouse carrying a small paper bag from town.Selene was sorting freshly harvested vegetables on the porch when he arrived."I was right," Gabriel said as he set the bag on the table.She looked up. "About what?""Your daughter."Something in his voice made her pause. She set aside the basket and turned toward him. "What happened?"Gabriel sat down. "She's here."Selene stared at him for a moment. "In Ravensford?"He nodded. "She arrived this afternoon."A brief silence settled between them.Selene had known this day would come. Gabriel had warned her that Aria was following the trust records, and sooner or later those records would lead her to Ravensford. Still, expecting it and hearing it confirmed were two very different things.Gabriel watched her carefully. "She started asking questions as soon as she arrived.""Where?""The county records office. A few local attorneys and accountants who handle estate and trust matters. Anyone who m







