Chapter 60

AVA

With each passing day, the weight of my mission grew heavier. The deadline for Liam’s transfer from the asylum was fast approaching, and I felt like I was racing against time, fighting a battle that no one else seemed to understand. I was making a light lunch in the kitchen, trying to distract myself from the anxiety gnawing at my insides. The smell of grilled vegetables and the rhythmic chopping of the knife were the only things keeping me grounded at that moment.

As I was lost in my thoughts, Tamy walked into the kitchen. Her presence startled me, and I nearly dropped the knife. She approached me cautiously, her eyes downcast as if she were afraid of intruding on my solitude. "Ava dear," she said softly, "Uncle John is calling for you in his study room."

My heart sank. Uncle John rarely summoned me these days unless he had something unpleasant to say or a new way to undermine my efforts. I nodded to Tamy, giving her a weak smile, and wiped my hands on a dish towel. "Thank you, T