Page 95

Ellie hesitated at the entrance of the Whitlock house.
She never felt like a stranger here. This house held memories—familiar warmth. Yet, it wasn’t her home. Not really.
Ever since she discovered Olivia wasn’t Jack and Jessica’s biological daughter, something inside her felt… unsettled. The thought of them living under the same roof as a murderer made her uneasy. Were they safe?
Straightening her back, she took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The hall was quiet. Too quiet.
She barely took a step before, she nearly stumbled back in shock. Jack stood in the middle of the hall, placing photos on a shelf. His sharp gaze flickered to her in surprise.
“What are you doing here?” His voice held no hostility, just mild confusion.
Before she could answer, Jessica appeared from another room.
Ellie immediately regretted coming.
But then—
“Ellie?” Jessica’s voice softened in surprise. “Come here.”
Ellie’s heart pounded. She hesitated, but there was no point in backing away now. “I… I just wanted to check on you both. And… about that attack…” She swallowed. “I swear, I didn’t do it. I didn’t attack Olivia.”
Before she could ramble further, Jessica walked up to her and took her hands.
"I know."
Ellie blinked in shock.
Jessica exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry for hitting you that day. For yelling at you. I couldn’t put you above my daughter then. That was my failure.”
Ellie stared at her, unable to believe what she was hearing. She had never expected Jessica to even look her way again, let alone apologize.
"I understand," Ellie finally said. "I don’t blame you."
Jessica smiled.
For the first time, it felt… real. Not the polite, distant smiles Jessica had given her before. This one was warm, genuine. And something about it made Ellie’s chest tighten, as if she had been waiting for this moment for longer than she even realized.
Her gaze drifted to the pictures Jack was arranging on the shelves. Rows of framed memories—Jack, Jessica, and a little girl.
Jessica followed her gaze. "We were just putting up the pictures we have of our daughter. Ever since the fire, Olivia refused to let us keep any in the house." Her voice dropped into a bitter murmur. "Now it makes sense why."
Ellie’s eyes moved over the photos, scanning each one. And then—she froze.
One picture caught her attention. It was familiar.
She stepped closer, her heart pounding as she reached out and picked it up.
It was the same picture she had. The exact same one.
Heart pounding, she reached for it, gripping the frame tightly. A boy in green pajamas. A little girl beside him.
Her fingers trembled as she turned to them. “Who is this?” Her voice barely escaped her lips as she pointed at the boy.
Jessica smiled. “That’s Sawyer.”
Ellie’s heart stopped. Her pulse roared in her ears.