a strangled whisper escaping h

ce of the waiting room. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't reconcile the image of Sera, vi

a steadying presence on Julian's shoulder.

read and disbelief tightening its grip. He'd seen the fear in Margaret's eyes

ffocating him. He stumbled back, collapsing onto the edge of the empty bed, h

ith concern, cut through the fog of disbelief. "Te

is impossible turn of events. But the image of Sera's face, framed by a cascade of dark curls, her eyes sparkling with a m

nally choked out, his voice a raspy whisper. "At

n phone, then back to Julian's ashen face. "But... how is t

back to Brooklyn, to ensure her safety. But Liam had been delayed, caught in a conversation with one

indow of time, ever

, his voice laced with gu

ow, devoid of emotion. "I should have... I don't know what I sh

threatened to consume him. He had to get back to the estate, had to see for hims

purposeful, his grief a cold, hard kno

sked, scrambling to keep up w

ght with urgency. "I need answers, Liam. And I

track to Julian's thoughts. He'd called Margaret, demanding answers, but she'd had little to offer. The police were trea

guilt to cloud his judgment. But a part of him, a dark and insidious v

about her connection to Julian, her presence at The Plaza, h

e-pristine grounds were now swarming with police officers, forensic teams combing through the charred wreckage, their every move illuminated by the h

ion a mixture of grief and barely contained fury. "I need to speak to the de

s, relented with a curt nod. He led Julian and Liam through the throng of reporters and onlookers, the air thick with sm

Julian of a particularly formidable chess master, acknowledged Julian's presence

hat did little to mask the steely glint in her eyes. "Thank you f

terrupted, his patience wearing thin. "Is it... is

ed, her gaze holding Jul

," she finally said, her voice carefully neutral. "But..." Sh

ash and soot. Julian's breath hitched in his chest as he recognized the worn leather cover, the faded ins

uage of

rtainty, he knew. The body in

his m

disbelief and dawning horror. He stared at the book, at the familiar inscription, a testament to

ther w

ul. Not injured, not clinging to life in a sterile hospital room, but gone. Swallo

e

f violence, a tragic accident. It was a meticulously orchestrated plan, a calculated move

s leverage, knowing that Julian would send her back into the lion's

t

ad? For wanting him to believe that she was gone, consumed

oice laced with professional sympathy that did little to soothe the storm raging within him, "I know this is a lot to proc

wait for the police to connect the dots, to untangle the web of lies and deceit that had ensnared them all. H

eyes scanning the chaotic scene before him. Liam, his expression a m

at are you

ulian said, his voice low and re

ed a number he knew by heart, a number that represented the one person he coul

old and sharp as a shard of ice, "

ursing a lukewarm cup of coffee and a growing sense of unease. The greasy spoon, a far cry from the elegant tea rooms she frequent

is voice, strained and tight with an urgency she couldn't decipher, had sent a shiver do

lingered long after the call ended. She'd known, with a certain

g message. An unknown number. No name. Just a single sentence that sent a ch

ver lies. Come alone, and