Chapter 8 - The Woman in the Photograph
Ava showed Julian the photograph.
His face changed immediately.
“This was taken yesterday.”
“Yes.”
“Who sent it?”
“Anonymous.”
Julian called security.
Ava stared at the picture.
Someone had been watching them.
Again.
They traced the email.
It came from an abandoned server.
The trail ended in Indiana.
Julian wanted security around Ava.
She refused.
“I don't want to live afraid.”
“I don't want you hurt.”
“You can't protect everyone.”
“I know.”
He paused.
“But I can try.”
The words stayed with her.
That evening, Ava returned to West Briar.
Her father was packing.
“What are you doing?”
“Moving.”
She froze.
“Why?”
“Because I received a letter.”
He handed it to her.
The envelope contained no name.
Inside was an old hospital bracelet.
Ava's name was written on it.
But underneath was another name.
Mother: Elena Cross.
Ava stared.
Her hands shook.
“Cross?”
Thomas looked away.
“I didn't know.”
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“Dad.”
He sighed.
“Your mother wasn't Elena Monroe.”
Ava felt dizzy.
“Then who was she?”
Thomas whispered:
“Elena Cross.”
Julian's mother.
Ava stared at him.
“That means—”
“Yes.”
Thomas looked at her.
“You and Julian share the same father.”
The room went silent.
Ava couldn't speak.
Julian arrived twenty minutes later.
Thomas told him everything.
Julian stared at Ava.
Neither moved.
Then Ava whispered:
“So we're family.”
Julian nodded.
“Yes.”
The revelation changed everything.
The attraction neither had named suddenly became impossible.
The trust between them became something more complicated.
Julian stepped back.
“I should have known.”
Ava's eyes filled with tears.
“We didn't know.”
“That doesn't make it easier.”
“No.”
They stood apart.
For the first time, Julian looked completely broken.
Ava touched his arm.
“We're still us.”
He shook his head.
“I don't know what that means anymore.”
Then Thomas suddenly grabbed his chest.
Ava screamed.
Julian caught him before he fell.
They called an ambulance.
At the hospital, the doctor said Thomas was stable.
Ava sat beside him.
Julian waited outside.
Hours later, Thomas opened his eyes.
He looked at Ava.
Then at Julian.
“There is something else.”
Ava leaned closer.
“What?”
Thomas whispered:
“Elena had another child.”
Julian's face appeared in the doorway.
He heard every word.
Ava stared at Thomas.
“Another child?”
May you like
Thomas nodded.
“A daughter.”
