Chapter 24. In the Dark

As the day of my encounter with Amanda, Pier's mother, drew nearer, I found myself wrestling with a whirlwind of emotions. The US Embassy had informed me that she would be flying from the United States to the Philippines to assist with the ongoing investigation into Pier's disappearance. However, the specifics of her stay and arrangements were under the Embassy's management, leaving me in the dark about the details.

A sense of unease settled over me, especially considering our recent phone conversation. Amanda had expressed genuine concern and a desire to support me during what she assumed was an incredibly difficult time. Yet, beneath the surface, the truth was more complicated than she could imagine.

Pier and I had been on the brink of a new chapter together – planning not just one wedding, but two. We had devised a plan for celebrations in both the Philippines and the US, accommodating the limitations his family faced in attending an overseas event. But