Chapter 4: The Weight of a Name
Later that evening, as twilight settled over the city, Emma found herself staring at the ceiling of her apartment, her mind looping endlessly around the name: Harrison Campbell.
She’d tried distracting herself watched half a movie, made a late dinner, even cleaned the kitchen but nothing worked. Her thoughts circled back to Jonathan. Or was it Harrison?
The clock read 10:43 PM when she finally reached for her laptop. She hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard, as if typing the name might summon something more than just digital footprints. Then, with a breath, she typed: Harrison Campbell.
The results were varied. A few articles popped up, mostly unrelated, and a scattering of references to old business deals, philanthropic events, and one particularly cryptic headline from nearly a decade ago: “Campbell Estate Legal Disputes Continue After Disappearance of Heir.”
Her pulse quickened. She clicked.
The article was vague. It mentioned a wealthy East Coast family, legal battles over inheritance, and an heir who had vanished from the public eye after a rumored scandal. The name Harrison was mentioned only once and even that without details.
No photo. No confirmed identity. Nothing definitive. But still, her gut told her it wasn’t a coincidence.
A knock came on the door.
Emma jumped. Who would be at her door this late? She padded over, heart thumping, and peeked through the peephole.
It was Sarah. She had forgotten that she loved with Sarah.
Emma opened the door with a surprised expression. “What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t sleep,” Sarah said, stepping in without waiting for an invitation. “This thing with Jonathan or Harrison or whoever is eating at me.”
Emma gestured toward the couch. “You too, huh?”
They sat down, Emma pulling a throw blanket over her lap.
“I looked him up,” she admitted quietly. “There’s not much. But there was something about an estate… and a missing heir.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “That lines up. I mean, if he really was part of some old money family, and something went wrong maybe that’s why he disappeared. Why did he start over?”
Emma nodded. “But then why enter the spotlight again as Jonathan Blackwell? He’s still wealthy, still powerful. He’s not exactly hiding.”
“Maybe it’s not about hiding,” Sarah offered. “Maybe it’s about control. Reinventing yourself means you decide what the world sees.”
Emma stared at the faint reflection of her screen. Her voice came soft. “But who gets to see the real him?”
Sarah didn’t answer.
Silence stretched between them again, more thoughtful this time. The air between them felt heavy with the weight of things unsaid.
Emma finally broke it. “We keep this between us. No one else hears about it.”
“Agreed,” Sarah said.
Still, as the night deepened, Emma knew the truth wouldn’t stay buried. Not forever.
And she wasn’t sure she wanted it to.