Chapter 2 - The Photograph That Changes Everything
My eyes lingered on the faded polaroid pinned haphazardly beside the polished mahogany bar counter.
The woman in the picture wore a vintage 1990s waitress apron, yet her bone structure, smile, and expressive eyes were an exact mirror of my own reflection.
Cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck as I cradled the tiny infant against my chest.
Julian, the guarded man in the tailored suit, watched me with a gaze that had suddenly turned pale and terrified.
“Where... where did this photograph come from?” I whispered, my voice trembling as the baby cooed softly against my collarbone.
Julian stepped forward, his leather shoes clicking sharply against the tile floor before he stopped abruptly.
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“That’s none of your concern, miss; just give me back my son,” Julian demanded, though his voice lacked its previous confident authority.
The baby let out a sharp cry of protest, gripping the fabric of my apron tighter with his tiny, determined fingers.
