Chapter 56. False Hope

Elena’s POV

The thought wouldn’t leave my head. Eric’s first love came from Frostpine too. That felt impossible. It couldn’t have been me. I had no memories of Europe. No memories of living anywhere but home with my mother. And noble blood? That wasn’t my life. Not even close.

“So they just… gave up?” I asked after a moment. “A family like the Thompsons doesn’t lose people easily.”

Philip let out a quiet breath. “They searched. Hard. But the second that woman and her daughter crossed into Frostpine territory, it was like they erased themselves. No records. No trail. Nothing.”

I frowned. “So they ran.”

“Probably,” he said. “Anyone smart would.”

Something sharp twisted in my chest. “And after that…Sara?”

Philip nodded. “They met in college. And it was instant. Dangerous kind of instant.”

“How fast?” I asked, even though part of me didn’t want to know.

“Ridiculously fast,” he replied. “Dating, moving in, engagement, marriage—