Chapter 10 - The Family Reborn
"He's going to be just fine," the doctor announced, stepping aside.
Tears of immense relief flooded Eli's eyes as she hugged her mother fiercely.
They walked into the recovery room and saw Richard resting comfortably in his bed.
He opened his eyes slowly and a bright, genuine smile spread across his face.
"My two favorite girls," he murmured softly.
Laura sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss him deeply.
It was a kiss that held ten years of longing, grief, and unbroken love.
The nightmare was finally over, and they could start their lives again as a true family.
Three weeks later, they brought Richard home to their beautiful, quiet estate.
The sun was shining warmly as Eli helped carry her mother's luggage into the guest room.
They were slowly settling into a new, peaceful routine, completely free from fear.
Eli opened Laura's heavy leather suitcase to help unpack her clothes.
At the very bottom, hidden beneath a stack of sweaters, she found Vanessa’s missing offshore bank ledger.
Eli reached in to grab it, but her hand brushed against something else hidden in the lining.
She pulled out a crumpled, heavily blood-stained photograph of herself.
Drawn directly over Eli’s face in thick red ink was a terrifying crosshair target.
May you like
And written on the back, in handwriting that definitely didn't belong to Vanessa, were three chilling words.
"See you soon."
