Chapter 22: A Decade in the Shadows

Years Later – Life in Glenavare

Glenavare had changed. What was once a secluded, almost forgotten town had flourished under Vale & Graves Developments, a company that had quietly reshaped its landscapes with modern housing and bustling business districts. New faces arrived every year, but Celine, Cleo, and the twins had remained in the background, never drawing too much attention to themselves. They had mastered the art of blending in, becoming just another set of residents in a growing town.

The twins, now sixteen, had grown into sharp, observant teenagers, both naturally cautious but still harboring the curiosity of youth. They had learned to read the subtle tension in their mother’s eyes, the unspoken language between her and Cleo. Even though they had a sense of normalcy, there was always the underlying awareness that they weren’t like everyone else. Their mother and Cleo were always watchful, always waiting.