Chapter 9

When the courier arrived, Damien was squatting in his room with a bottle in hand. He looked like he hadn't shaved in days. "Mr. Rook, this was shipped back from overseas by Ms. Trafford. She asked us to hand it to you personally." The moment Damien heard Edith's name, the haze in his eyes seemed to clear. "How is she? Did the treatment work? Is she better now? Is she still mad at me?" Damien asked, his voice tight with desperation. The courier shook his head. "Ms. Trafford passed away at the hospital yesterday morning. I'm very sorry, Mr. Rook. Please accept my condolences." In an instant, Damien lost the ability to think. He refused to believe it. He kept demanding a different answer, but the courier only repeated the same thing. ... With trembling hands, Damien opened what Edith had sent him. It was a set of chat logs that recorded every prank she'd endured, every deadline they'd imposed, and the threatening messages Julian and Celeste had sent her. When Damien finished readi