The truth inches closer, but so does danger. Just as past and present begin to align, a chilling interruption reminds Ava that some secrets refuse to stay buried.
Ava stared at the letter in her lap, the words blurring behind her tears. The paper felt heavier than it should, like it carried the weight of a life that was stolen and a love that was never given the chance to breathe.
"I wrote this," she whispered. "I remember writing it… right before"
She couldn't finish.
Liam reached across the small distance between them, his fingers brushing against hers. The contact jolted something inside her.
Not pain.
Recognition.
Like her soul had just taken its first full breath.
"You were going to run," Liam said softly. "We were both going to run."
Ava nodded. "But I never made it to you."
She looked at him, eyes wide. "Do you remember how I… died?"
He hesitated. Looked away. "Not clearly. Just flashes. But it wasn't an accident. I know that much."
Silence wrapped around them. And then
CRASH.
Glass shattered.
Ava jumped to her feet. "What was that?"
Liam bolted up beside her. The sound had come from the hallway glass, metal, something heavy.
Eleanor rushed into the room, face pale. "Don't move," she warned. "Both of you."
Ava's heart raced. "What's going on?"
But Eleanor didn't answer. She went to the door and locked it with one smooth twist. Then, from behind a cabinet, she pulled a drawer open revealing a small handgun.
Liam stepped back. "Whoa. What the hell?"
"Someone found you," she said tightly. "This place is protected, but that doesn't mean they won't try."
"Who?" Ava asked. Her voice shook.
"Whoever was after you then… might still be watching now." Eleanor crossed to the window, pulling the curtain back an inch. "They don't want you to remember. And if you do" she turned, eyes dark "they'll try to erase you again."
Something hit the wall outside with a dull thud. Ava flinched.
She suddenly felt like a hunted animal.
"But why me?" she whispered. "Why Isabella?"
"Because power doesn't die with a body," Eleanor said. "And neither does a secret."
They stayed locked inside for hours. Eleanor paced. Liam sat beside Ava, close but not touching, the air between them charged with things unsaid.
"I remember a name," Ava said quietly. "A man. He wore a ring. A square black stone… I think his name was Vincent."
Liam stiffened. "Vincent Hale?"
Ava looked at him. "You know him?"
Liam nodded slowly. "He's real. Alive. He owns a media company now. Big, powerful. But back then… he was your father's most trusted business partner."
A beat passed.
"Until he wasn't."
Ava leaned back, her head spinning.
This wasn't just about past lives and love.
This was about revenge.
This was about unfinished business.
And someone out there knew she was starting to remember.
They weren't going to let her finish the story.