Chapter 21: The Woman Waiting at Home

We drove back toward my grandmother's estate as fast as the road allowed.

Emma sat silently in the back seat.

For the first time since my rebirth, she didn't try to defend herself.

Corbin kept calling his mother, but every call went unanswered.

When we reached the estate, the front gate stood open.

My heart sank.

Jack parked beside the fountain, and we rushed inside.

The foyer was empty.

My grandmother's bedroom door was wide open.

I ran upstairs.

She was sitting beside the bed, perfectly calm.

But the safe behind her had been opened.

"Grandmother, are you all right?"

She nodded.

"I'm fine."

I looked at the empty safe.

"What did they take?"

"Nothing important."

She reached beneath the mattress and pulled out a second envelope.

"I knew they might come back."

Corbin entered the room and stopped when he saw her.

"Mother is here."

My grandmother's expression hardened.

"I know."

"Where is she?"

"She was here ten minutes ago."

Jack looked toward the hallway.

"Then she didn't come for the documents."

My grandmother nodded.

"She wanted something else."

I opened the envelope.

Inside was a single photograph of Corbin's mother standing beside my father.

On the back was a date.

The date Emma had supposedly died in my previous life.

My breathing stopped.

"They were together that day."

Corbin stared at the photograph.

"That's impossible."

"Nothing about that day was impossible," I said quietly. "It was planned."

Emma suddenly stepped forward.

"Esme."

I turned toward her.

She was crying.

"There's something I never told you."

"What now?"

"In the first life, I didn't die naturally."

The room went silent.

"What are you saying?"

Emma swallowed hard.

"Someone gave me medication before I died."

Corbin's face went pale.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

She pressed a hand against her chest.

"But I remember seeing your mother standing beside my bed."

Corbin stepped back as if he'd been struck.

"My mother?"

"She told me everything would be easier once Esme was gone."

I stared at Emma.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because I was ashamed."

"And because she threatened me."

My grandmother closed her eyes.

"That woman has been manipulating this family for years."

A noise came from downstairs.

We all froze.

Jack immediately moved toward the door.

A moment later, the sound of breaking glass echoed through the house.

Then smoke began drifting up the staircase.

"Fire!"

Jack grabbed my arm.

"We have to get out."

My grandmother tried to stand.

I rushed to support her.

Emma grabbed the envelope from the bed.

We hurried down the stairs.

Flames had already spread across the dining room curtains.

Someone had poured gasoline along the wooden floor.

Corbin pulled open the front door.

We stumbled outside just as another window shattered.

The fire grew behind us.

My grandmother watched her home burn.

Then she looked at me.

"They've become desperate."

I looked at the flames.

"Good."

Jack glanced at me.

"Good?"

I tightened my grip on the envelope.

"People make mistakes when they're desperate."

Sirens sounded in the distance.

Corbin looked toward the road.

"My mother did this."

I shook my head.

"Maybe."

"But someone else helped her."

My grandmother looked at the photograph again.

"Your father."

Corbin's jaw tightened.

"Then I'll deal with him."

I looked at Corbin.

"No."

He frowned.

"Why?"

"Because this time, I want the truth to come from him."

I pulled out my phone.

There was one number I hadn't called yet.

My father's.

I pressed dial.

He answered after the first ring.

"Esme."

His voice was unusually calm.

"I suppose you've found the photograph."

My blood ran cold.

"You knew I had it?"

"Of course."

A pause followed.

Then he said something that made my entire body freeze.

"Your grandmother told you the truth about your first death."

"But she never told you who ordered it."

I tightened my grip on the phone.

"Who?"

My father laughed softly.

"Ask Corbin what his mother did to Emma."

The call ended.

I slowly lowered the phone.

Everyone stared at me.

Then Emma whispered,

"What did he say?"

I looked at Corbin.

"He says your mother ordered my death."

Corbin's face went completely white.