All Chapters of Shadows In The Fire: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The Wilding Estate, London...Anna Wilding sneered contemptuously at the woman seated opposite her. What drivel was she preparing to spew? And how did she manage to slither onto the grounds, at this hour of the night? Clearly, security was lacking on the estate.‘And what did you say your name was?’ Anna asked coldly.‘Eva Miller, Dr. Eva Miller. We have met before, Mrs. Wilding. I treated your daughter in law after her fall down the stairs a few weeks ago.’Anna bristled inwardly, remembering her last confrontation with Faye. For some reason, the little bitch seemed…stronger…that day. The way she stood up to her, was unlike anything she had ever done during her marriage to Nolan.Perhaps Nolan's fists, had beaten her into growing a backbone.‘That woman is no longer a part of my family, doctor. If you came looking for her, I would suggest trying the closest gutter, from where she came. If I never see that worthless garbage again, it will be too soon.'Eva Miller smiled wryly. ‘The p

For a moment, it felt to Faye, as if a fog was lifting from her mind. A weight, pinned with a lifelong undercurrent of uncertainty, was being replaced by something concrete, something tangible and all was beginning to make sense.Time froze…even the drops of rain appeared to be suspended in mid-air, as a torrent of memories came surging back. Yet far from being overwhelmed, she welcomed it, feeling the uncertainty slipping away, dropping from her mind as if a gossamer veil was being lifted, layer upon layer.‘They were my sisters and brothers,’ she whispered as if to herself. ‘They lived, they laughed, they loved….and he took it all away. He took them away, one by one, without thinking twice. He took their lives, perverted their legacies, and made it seem like the will of God. I remember all of it now.’‘Then tell me Faye, what happened next?’ Esther asked. ‘What happened after this moment?’‘I went home,’ Faye answered. ‘I was broken at the thought of what you and Mathilda were goin

‘How could this happen Nolan? You said the lunatic was on birth control. Now she’s running around pregnant with your child, my grandchild!’Nolan threw his arms up in frustration, and it angered Anna even more. He was truly an idiot. His father indulged his every whim as a child, and this, was the conclusive result. Now she had to deal with his reckless mistake, as she had to deal with so many others before.‘She was, Mother! For the ten thousandth time, I don’t know how Faye could have ended up pregnant! Maybe she skipped a day or two. How else would it happen?’Anna pursed her lips in anger. That night when Dr. Miller came to the manor and made her outrageous stand, was etched in her memory. She demanded proof of course and by the next day, all of Faye’s medical records were in her possession. It proved beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she was indeed pregnant and had kept the news secret.For Dr. Miller, it provided a payday, beyond her wildest dreams. Her fantasy could finally see

‘Faye, are you sure about this?’‘I am Sybil. You know I’ve never had much of an interest in the day to day running of the coffee shop. Even when I lived here before. You and Mark have been doing great running it and with you getting married soon, it makes sense that you guys start a new legacy. I need to find my own way, after this is over.’She wondered silently how much of her new life she was planning, would include Eli. He’d made it clear he was willing to raise the baby with her, but did she really have a right to expect so much from him?She’d hurt him and shattered his heart in the past, and he was willing to forgive her for all of it. And now, he was by her side, trying to figure out a way to stop Magnus and Mary. What if she was simply placing him in harm’s way?She loved him, she knew that she never stopped loving him, but did she deserve him? He had never been anything, but the perfect boyfriend, while she had been selfish to the core. She’d spent so much time keeping secr

As thunder rumbled overhead, Faye settled in the garden with a cup of tea and some scones. She had to continually remind herself that she was eating for two and should have regular meals. She smiled contentedly as she felt the baby move. The little tyke was ready for some lunch too.She mulled over the choice before her. Should she summon Esther and place her in harm's way? What if that was the only way to gain more information? She had no idea what Magnus and Mary's plan for Esther was and Mathilda had gone silent. She no longer appeared in her dreams and visions. Perhaps a sign that she moved on and was at peace? Unlikely, though, since her whole purpose was to see that Esther was taken care of. So where was she? It occurred to her that Mathilda too, might be frightened by what was to come. She had seen so many horrors in her life, it seemed the logical reason as to why she was staying in the shadows. Her own daughter despised her to the point of delivering her to a witchfinder and