FIVE YEARS LATER
361 Words
Chapter 2: Five Years Later
Sara’s POV
In the kitchen, I carefully poured hot water over the tea leaves. The soothing aroma offered a brief respite from the constant tension in the Shelton household. It felt more like a stage where I played the obedient maid than a place of comfort.
My phone buzzed on the counter. Glancing at the screen, I saw Jane’s name flash.
“Jane,” I answered, keeping my voice steady. “Please tell me you have good news.”
“Sara,” Jane’s voice crackled slightly, “I’ve found your mother’s painting.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“Really? I… I knew it wasn’t here. I’ve looked everywhere for it.”
“It’s in Noah Dempsey’s possession,” she said.
The name sent a shiver down my spine. “The black sheep of the Dempsey family? Why does he have it? Never mind. What matters is that we get it back.”
Jane sighed. “We can’t, Sara. Noah Dempsey has been missing for five years. He’s still heir to the Dempsey fortune. His assets, including his art collection, are locked down tighter than the Pentagon.”
Frustration welled inside me. “I need that painting back. You don’t know how long I’ve stayed in this house, enduring my stepmother and her daughter just to find it. I can’t give up now.”
“Also,” Jane continued, “the private investigator who found your mother’s painting sent a gigantic bill. We have to pay before getting any more info.”
I sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down. “Okay. I’ll handle the money.”
Determination surged through me. Before Mom died, she told me to find the painting. I needed to know why.
Suddenly, the kitchen door slammed open. Cathy stormed in, face twisted with anger.
“Mother!” she shouted. Her eyes locked on me. “Get out of my way!”
Before I could react, she shoved me hard. Hot tea splashed onto my arm, searing my skin. Ignoring the pain, I watched her smirk and leave, leaving me alone with a throbbing arm and a heart full of resolve.
- Writer
