Chapter 45: A HIDDEN ALLY

I left for the cabin that afternoon, the weight of my mother’s letter pressing heavily on my mind. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the answers I so desperately needed were just out of reach, hidden beneath layers of secrets and lies. The drive out to the family cabin was long and lonely, the familiar winding roads offering little comfort. It had been years since I’d last visited, and yet the memories flooded back as soon as I caught sight of the towering pine trees and the narrow gravel path leading to the cabin.

The caretaker, James, was already waiting for me when I arrived. He greeted me with a nod, his weathered face showing the signs of someone who had spent decades tending to the land. He didn’t ask why I was there, and I didn’t offer an explanation. We both knew that the cabin held memories—some good, some too painful to revisit.

“Everything’s as you left it, Ms. Emily,” James said quietly as he handed me the keys. “I’ll be nearby if you need anything.”

I thanked him and made