I stared at that sentence.
Tears streamed down my face.
Then I read the final paragraph.
Your grandfather loves you.
He made mistakes because he was afraid.
Forgive him if you can.
But don’t let fear become another prison.
You deserve the truth.
I folded the letter against my chest.
Then I heard a noise.
Footsteps.
Elena immediately pulled me behind the desk.
Someone entered the warehouse.
Slowly.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor.
A man’s voice called out.
“Mara.”
I froze.
I knew that voice.
“Ethan?”
He stepped into the office.
He looked exhausted.
His face was bruised.
There was a cut above his eyebrow.
But he was alive.
I ran toward him.
He caught me in his arms.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
I hit his chest.
Hard.
“You idiot.”
He held me tighter.
“I know.”
“You disappeared.”
“I know.”
“You let me believe you abandoned me.”
“I know.”
“You made me hate you.”
“I know.”
I pushed away.
“Then why?”
His eyes filled with tears.
“Because I couldn’t bury another person I loved.”
I stared at him.
“What happened?”
“I found Arthur.”
My blood went cold.
“Where?”
“He found me first.”
Ethan looked at Elena.
