Emily could barely breathe.
Her father’s letter burned in her palm, the words screaming at her.
"Trust no one. Not Oliver. Not James. And especially not Margaret Sterling."
Her grip on the page tightened, her knuckles white.
And now Olivia—her best friend, the only person she thought she could trust—stood in front of her, eyes wild, breath coming fast as if she had run all the way here.
The air between them was charged, thick with the weight of secrets neither of them had spoken yet.
“Emily, listen to me.” Olivia’s voice was low, urgent. She took a step closer, reaching for her arm. “I found something. Something bad.”
Emily swallowed hard, forcing herself to focus. “What do you mean?”
Olivia’s gaze darted toward the dimly lit hallway, her fingers tightening around Emily’s wrist as
