Chapter 24

I sat on the couch with a half-filled glass of wine in my hand. The house was quiet. Benjamin had left for his company earlier this morning. He said he had been away from work too long and needed to catch up. I told him it was fine. After everything he had done for me, he deserved to focus on his life too.

My mom was sitting on the other end of the couch, her eyes on the TV screen, but I could tell she wasn’t really watching. It was one of those crime shows, the kind where everything always wraps up neatly by the end. I sipped my wine slowly, letting the warmth calm the thoughts running in my head.

My phone buzzed on the table.

I reached for it and saw the screen light up with an unknown number.

I hesitated for a second, then picked up.

“Elizabeth,” the voice said.

My stomach twisted.

I knew that voice.

“What do you want?” I asked, and my voice sounded colder than I expected.

There was silence for a second before he spoke again.