Chapter 19

As dusk settled in, the black Bentley quietly rolled through the gates of the Harding estate. The moment the car came to a stop, William pushed the door open and got out without a word. Even Eric, who had expected tension, felt the pressure in the air and instinctively swallowed hard. Elsie kept her head lowered the whole ride, her fingers clutched tightly, icy to the touch. It wasn’t until the cold air swept into the car as William stepped out that she snapped back to reality. Margaret was already standing at the entrance, waiting. The second she saw William, her face lit up with a smile. “William, you’re back. And Liam too! It’s been three years, but finally, the family’s back together!” Elsie was still hesitating to get out of the car, but hearing that made her chest tighten painfully. It was her fault. Because of her, the family hadn’t been whole in three years. Margaret’s cheerful voice hadn’t even faded yet when she caught sight of Elsie stepping out. The smile on her face vanish