#Chapter 70 – Hope

Olivia's POV The house felt emptier than I expected. Even though there were still people around, the absence of my mother hung in the air like a dense fog, clinging to the walls and the spaces between us. The quiet was suffocating, and yet, every sound felt too loud. I wandered through the rooms aimlessly, trying to sort through the clutter of thoughts, emotions, and grief that had taken over since the funeral. It was in the small study, tucked away in a drawer, that I found it – a small velvet box with a simple ribbon tied around it. My heart jumped into my throat as I lifted the box, recognizing it immediately. My mother’s handwriting graced the top, a simple “For my daughter” written in her elegant script. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what I would find. My fingers trembled as I untied the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a pendant, simple, but beautiful. A delicate silver heart, its surface shining faintly in the lamp light. Beneath the pendant was a lette