Chapter 19 - An Old Enemy From The Past Emerges Again
Late that evening, after the children were safely tucked into their grand new bedrooms, I sat by the study window. Sebastian was downstairs reviewing the final corporate restructuring documents with his new legal team.
A soft tapping sound echoed against the heavy glass windowpane overlooking the dark estate gardens. I stood up cautiously, pulling back the velvet drapes to peer out into the misty moonlight.
Standing on the stone balcony outside was a cloaked figure holding a small, unmarked envelope against the glass. My breath hitched in my throat as I recognized the familiar, chilling red wax seal stamped across the flap.
Before I could call downstairs for security, the balcony door clicked open from an unlatched security latch. The stranger dropped the envelope onto the Persian rug inside the study and vanished back into the shadows.
May you like
I walked over slowly, picking up the heavy paper with trembling fingers and tearing open the flap. Inside was a single photograph of an unknown man staring up at our window with cold, calculating eyes.
Written on the back in neat cursive script were the words: “The Vale family debt has not been paid yet.”
