Chapter 24 - Echoes of the Past
The old Vance family cabin in Upstate New York was tucked deep inside a dense pine forest.
Emily sat near the stone fireplace, watching Ethan and Noah sleep peacefully on the sofa.
Ryan arrived an hour later, his car covered in mud, locking the heavy oak door behind him.
"We aren't safe here for long," Ryan said softly, sitting down near the fire opposite her.
Emily looked at the crackling flames, remembering the happy memories they shared in this exact cabin seven years ago.
"We used to come here when the world was simple," Emily murmured, her voice carrying a rare tone of nostalgia.
Ryan walked over, sitting beside her on the rug, his shoulder gently touching hers.
"I would give up every dollar in my bank account to go back to those days, Emily," Ryan admitted softly.
Emily turned her face toward him, seeing the profound sincerity and exhaustion in his dark blue eyes.
For a brief, fleeting second, the wall of anger between them seemed to crumble completely.
May you like
Suddenly, the red laser sight of a sniper rifle flashed across the cabin wall.
---
