Chapter 13: Threads of Deceit

Emma sat at the kitchen table, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her coffee mug. The events of the past few days swirled in her mind, a chaotic whirlwind of emotions and unanswered questions. The woman who had raised her—someone she had once trusted—someone who's she had thought was dead , now revealed to be nothing more than a schemer, seeking to exploit the truth for her own gain. It was a bitter pill to swallow. Across the table, Alexander watched her carefully. He could see the turmoil in her eyes, the way she struggled to make sense of it all. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her that everything would be okay, but he knew that words alone wouldn’t be enough. “Emma,” he began gently, “I know this is a lot to take in, but we have to stay focused. If this woman really knows something about your past, we need to get to her before Eleanor does.” Emma looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination. “I understand, Alex. But what if she refuses