Chapter 43

Alistair’s POV

“A few days before they were killed, I overheard them making plans,” she began, her voice low and tingeing with regret. “They wanted us to move out of the house—something they’d cooked up as a surprise for my upcoming birthday. But I found out about it ahead of time.” She let out a sad, shaky little chortle that echoed against the walls. “It would have been the best day of my life, because even though I’d already discovered their secret, my curiosity hadn’t died down. I was genuinely excited to leave this neighborhood. And, you know, Mom would always make me ramen—lots of spicy kimchi in it—ever since we were little. It was our little Korean tradition.”

How had I never known that? I thought to myself, surprise flooding my mind. Why didn’t her file mention her heritage? Now that she’d said it, I could see it—the dark, lovely shape of her eyes, the curve of her cheeks. A face that carried stories beyond what I’d ever read in any document.

“I mis