Chapter 162

• The next day, Jace sat in an armchair, his hands clasped tightly, as Avalynn perched on the sofa beside him, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric.
• Across the room, Jace’s grandfather and Aunt Linda sat in stony silence, their faces as inscrutable as marble statues. The clock ticked away the seconds, each one a drop of water in the sea of waiting.
• They all knew what was at stake here...their family’s legacy, their reputation, and most importantly, the truth.