MEETING THE OLD PAST

Adrianna didn't waste another second. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as the Cosgrove house came into view. The two-story structure sat like a ghost of her past—peeling paint, a sagging porch, and an air of neglect that mirrored the relationships within. It was a house of shadows and broken memories, and for the first time in years, she was willingly walking into the heart of it.

She parked the sleek black car Alaric had lent her and took a deep breath, steadying herself. As she stepped out, the front door creaked open, and a young woman appeared.

"Adrianna?" Laura's voice was breathless, her expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. "Is that really you?"

Adrianna glanced at her younger adoptive sister, memories of their strained bond flashing through her mind. Laura's surprise was genuine, but it did little to soften the sharp edges of Adrianna's resolve.