The Letters We Were Meant to Find

The Truth Beneath

CHAPTER 10

THE TRUTH BENEATH

The room was silent except for the steady ticking of the old clock above the fireplace. Amara stood beside the table, staring at the photograph Ruth had placed before her. For twenty years, she had believed the image of her father belonged to a life that had ended the night he disappeared. Now she was beginning to understand that it had only been hidden.

“Why did he never come back?” she asked.

Ruth lowered her eyes. “Because coming back would have put you in danger.”

“From whom?”

Before Ruth could answer, footsteps sounded in the corridor.

Both women froze.

The handle of the door slowly turned.

Amara's heart began to pound.

The door opened.

Ethan stood there, rainwater glistening on his coat. His eyes moved from Amara to Ruth, and something in his expression changed.

“You found her,” he said quietly.

Amara stepped forward. “You knew Ruth?”

Ethan didn't answer immediately.

Then he reached into his coat and placed a small envelope on the table.

“Your father left this for you.”

Amara stared at it.

On the front were four words.

OPEN ONLY WHEN READY.