Chapter 31

• The hallway was quiet, save for the soft echo of Melanie’s heels against the marble floor. She walked slowly, each step heavier than the last. Beside her, Mia held her hand, swinging their arms back and forth in excitement, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside her mother’s chest.
• They stopped in front of a polished wooden door. The number on it matched what the receptionist had given them. This was it—the private suite where Alex and his mother were staying.
• Melanie hesitated, lifting her fist to knock but stopping just before her knuckles touched the door.