mbling uncontrollably. The warm glow of her wedding day had turned cold, replaced by an unbearable weight press

linical glow over the somber building. Liam opened the car door for Elsa, but she hardly noti

ceptionist, tears streaming down her face. "My parents-Johnson

x of sympathy and discomfort. Elsa's desperation grew, an

ents are tall, my mom's hair is graying, my dad

forward. "Follow me, ma'am," she sa

le hallways. Her heart raced, her breathing shallow. She clung to the faint hope that it was all

or, pushing it open to reveal the morgue. The

ly, leading them to a pair of s

ed if Liam hadn't caught her. She clung to him, her nails

e nurse explained. "The car fell off a cliff and

f one of the sheets, her mind screaming for her t

ching cry. The bodies were charred beyond recognition, t

to her knees. "This can't be

er. He didn't speak, didn't try to offer hollow words of comfort

e fire?" she demanded, her voice trembling with desperation.

ill investigating, ma'am. All we know is that the

r fists clenching. "I need to find o

Liam's voice was f

filled with anguish. "Liam, th

he time. Let the authorities handle the investigation

anted to fight, to insist on doing it herself, but the exhaustion weighing

pered, her voice

the morgue and back to the car. She leaned on

, her mind replaying the scene in the morgue over and over again. She

her. He could see the pain etched into her features, and for

the fir

e him, he reminded himself of his purpose. She wante

s they approached the mansion.

ad leaning against the win

battlefield-one side consumed by hatred, the other haunted