Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 41 - Chapitre 50

The morning air inside the Kingsley estate was thick with anxiety. Gray clouds drifted low outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long, dull shadows across the living room rug.Amelia sat at the kitchen island, staring down at her untouched toast. Her fingers brushed against the rim of her coffee cup, cold and still. The black envelope lay on the granite counter between her and Alexander, its bold white lettering glaring back at them like an open threat.Alexander stood near the glass door, phone pressed to his ear, his back stiff."I don't care how many guards are on duty, David," Alexander said into the receiver, his voice dropping an octave, hard as flint. "Someone gave her access to an outside line or a courier. I want every guard shift at the central detention facility audited by noon today."He paused, listening, his jaw working as he paced a short line across the polished floor."No, we aren't waiting for the formal investigation," Alexander continued sharply. "If Victor

The early morning rain had stopped, leaving the asphalt outside the Kingsley estate wet and gleaming under a pale, watery sun. Amelia stood at the kitchen island, spreading sweet strawberry jam onto a slice of toasted bread. She wore a comfortable dark green woolen cardigan over her white shirt, her hair falling softly over her shoulders.Despite the cool breeze coming through the open terrace door, a small flame of anxiety still flickered in her chest. Victoria’s bitter whisper from the courtroom echoed in her ears over and over. Buildings burn down very easily.Alexander walked into the kitchen, his dark leather jacket slung over one shoulder and his tie loosened at his neck. He set two warm paper cups of fresh coffee on the counter, stepping close to Amelia to wrap his arm around her waist. He pulled her against his side, pressing a warm kiss against her temple."You're overthinking again, my love," Alexander said gently, taking the knife from her hand and setting it down. "I spoke

The golden sunlight of early morning filtered through the bedroom blinds, casting long, soft shadows across the polished hardwood floor. Amelia stood in front of the mirror, slowly pulling the sleeves of a cozy navy wool sweater over her arms. Her reflection showed dark circles beneath her hazel eyes from another sleepless night, but the heavy gloom and suffocating panic that had gripped her yesterday had finally lifted.Alexander walked out of the adjoining bathroom, buttoning the silver cuffs of his crisp white shirt. He looked visibly tired–his phone had been ringing continuously on the bedside table since five in the morning with urgent calls from the police precinct, security firms, and legal teams–yet his stance remained sharp, firm, and protective."You should really stay home and rest today, Amelia," Alexander said gently, stepping up behind her in the mirror's reflection. He wrapped his long arms around her waist, drawing her back against his broad chest and resting his chin

The shrill ring of the alarm clock cut through the quiet bedroom at five-thirty in the morning. Amelia reached out from under the warm duvet and slapped the snooze button. She rolled over, her body aching from the long hours spent painting walls and moving heavy supply boxes the day before. Beside her, the mattress was already empty.She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and listened. The faint hum of the shower running in the adjoining bathroom told her Alexander was already up. Sunlight barely peeked through the slit in the heavy curtains, casting a cold gray light across the dark hardwood floor.Amelia swung her legs out of bed and stood up, her bare feet meeting the cold floorboards. She walked over to the closet, pulling out a dark blue dress shirt, black trousers, and her white lab coat. Today was the official grand reopening of the Dr. Arthur Sterling Memorial Clinic.By six o'clock, she walked into the kitchen. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Alexander stood at the

By six o'clock in the evening, the sun dipped low behind the brick row houses of West End Avenue. The cool autumn air outside turned sharp, but inside the Dr. Arthur Sterling Memorial Clinic, the heat was suffocating. Radiators hissed along the baseboards, filling the crowded waiting room with dry warmth.Amelia stood behind the central reception desk, rubbing the back of her stiff neck. Her feet throbbed inside her dark leather flats. She had seen twenty-eight patients since noon–stitching up a mechanic's sliced palm, treating elderly Mrs. Higgins for acute bronchitis, and managing endless prescriptions for seasonal flu.Maya slumped in the swivel chair beside her, staring blankly at a pile of paper medical files. Her dark eyes were bloodshot."My brain feels like mush," Maya muttered, taking a lukewarm sip of black coffee from a chipped mug. "If one more person asks me if we accept out-of-state medical cards today, I might actually burst into tears."Amelia offered a weary, sympathe