Chapter three
1042 Words
Eddie held the bracelet like it might disappear if she blinked. The delicate silver bracelet trembled in her hand as she stared at the engraved letters.
M.W.
Maya Winslow.
Her sister had vanished five years ago after a heated argument with their
father.The police ruled the disappearance
As a runaway. Her family mourned quietly.her mom died not quite long after her sister's disappearance; Her dad drank himself into ruin.
And now…this.
She hasn't set her eyes on that bracelet since the night Maya vanished.it was a birthday gift from their mom.Maya never took it off.
So why was it here?
Eddie stood up from the bed, storming out
Of her room and down the hallway, furry burning in her veins.
She found Damon in the living room, sitting comfortably on the leather sofa, with a drink in his hand,his eyes staring at the night skyline.he didn't flinch when she burst in.
“What the hell is this”? She snapped, holding up the bracelet.
He took a sip of wine’ unperturbed, “it's a welcome gift”
Don't play games with me Damon, “where did you get this”?
He looked at the bracelet for a moment,then looked back at his glass
“Does it matter?” he asked.
“It belongs to my younger sister!” Her voice trembled.”You said she was dead.”
“I never said that”
“You implied it” you told me my father made you lose someone dear”her breath grew shallow” you were talking about Maya.”
His gaze finally met her eyes, sharp and cold, “she once mattered to me” that was a long time ago”
“You had a relationship with her?”
The room went silent
“Yes” I did
Eddie's hands trembled.
“You dated my sister?” she asked her voice barely above a whisper.
We were engaged,”Damon said calmly, “Briefly.”
The word landed like a punch on Eddie's face.
ENGAGED?
Eddie's heart thundered in her chest.
Maya never told anyone, not even her.
“Why didn't she tell us? “Why did she keep such things from her family?”
Damon gently stood up, setting down his glass on the table “because your father was not in support of it” he even tried to pay me off to disappear from her life. but I refused.The next week… she vanished.
Eddie was shocked
Her father? bribing people?Her sister is engaged to Damon? every word was too much for her to process,it felt like someone had ripped the floor out from beneath her.
You think my father has something to do with
it?” she asked hoarsely.
“I don't think,I know.”
Eddie shook her head, “my father might have made a mistake but he loves maya”
A silence fell, thick with secrets and unfinished history
She wanted to argue with him so badly, to defend her, but the truth is she doesn't know who to believe anymore.
Damon walked closer to her,”I married you because you are the only link left.” If your sister is alive,”I intend to find her but if she's not…Then someone would answer for exactly what happened.”
And you think that I'm your tool for that? Eddie asked with a shaky voice.
“No” he replied gently “I think you are my key”
…..
Back in her room, she couldn't sleep.
The bracelet sat on her nightstand like a ghost.
She kept turning the chain over with her fingers, trying to fix together a puzzle missing too many pieces.
Engaged? Damon and Maya?
It was hard to believe.
She had too many questions and there was no one to ask.
Her phone vibrated suddenly.
A private number.
She hesitated,then she answered.
“Eddie Winslow”
It was a woman's voice, soft yet familiar.
“Yes” who is this?
The woman didn't reply immediately,then she said “I saw your wedding in the news”
Eddie's mind skipped, she sat up straight
“Who are you”
“I need to see you, “Alone”
Eddie's throat tightened, “Are you..?”
The line went silent
She stared at her phone, her heart slamming against her ribs
No number,no clue, but the voice-
It sounded very familiar like Maya's voice.or maybe she was just overthinking.
The next morning, Eddie sat across
from Damon at the breakfast table.
A huge bread spread had been laid out.
Fruit, croissant, smoked salmon, and egg she hadn't touched.
He read the financial section of the newspaper as if nothing had
happened.
“You look quite” he said without looking at her.
“I received a call last night”
He gently folded his paper,
From a woman, she continued, she
Said she saw our wedding coverage.
Then she hung up.
“Do you recognize her voice?”
“I think so,it could have been her.”
Damon relaxed back in his chair, *or someone pretending to be her”
“I don't think so,”why would someone do that?”
“Maybe to startle me, or you.it worked”
Eddie frowned, aren't you even curious?
I'm always curious,he replied, “But curiosity without evidence is just like making noise”
Eddie pushed her plate away,’Then let's find out.”
Later that day, Eddie stepped out of the penthouse without telling Damon, while he
He was in a board meeting.She went to a ‘cafe’ downtown, the one the woman mentioned in a text message she received
an hour after the call.
4pm.corner table, make sure you come alone.
Her hands were trembling a little as she pushed the door open and scanned the room.
There she was.
A woman in a dark hoodie, and sunglasses, half of her face was hidden by the hoodie, she sat slouched in the far corner,her fingers wrapped around a cup of tea.
Eddie approached her slowly.
‘Maya?’
The lady looked up, and Eddie's heart froze.
She looked older, thinner, with tired
eyes-but unmistakable it was her sister.
The woman said, “You shouldn't have come. He is watching.”
- Writer
