389: Echoes of a Forgotten Past

The heavy atmosphere persisted as the siblings regrouped in the study, the weight of their father's ambiguous remarks and emotional state settling over them like a thick fog. Emma paced the room, the earlier words about their mother resonating within her, stirring a mixture of curiosity and dread. Wayne, leaning against the bookshelf filled with old family albums and dusty ledgers, broke the silence. "There's more to Mom's past than we ever suspected. Remember the mysterious visitor on her birthday? It happened just before her health declined. That argument between Mom and Dad—it was the most intense I've ever seen." Emma stopped pacing and turned towards Wayne, her expression one of renewed interest. "You're right. I was very young, but I remember the tension. It was the first time I saw Dad so upset. Whatever was said or done that day, it's clear it has long-lasting effects. Maybe that visitor is the key to understanding what's happening now." Maxwell, usually the most impulsive,