📋PART 2
The terrace slowly emptied as guests slipped away into the night, whispering excitedly. Some even dared to come over and murmur awkward apologies to me. Brenda had already been escorted to the guest house, still shouting threats that grew fainter until the doors slammed shut with a final, echoing thud.
Hunter hadn’t let go of my hand once. He pulled me close under the soft glow of the string lights, his forehead resting against mine.
“I’m never letting her near you again,” he whispered, voice cracking. “We’re going to start over. Just you and me. New house if you want. New everything.”
I smiled through happy tears. “As long as it’s us.”
Rosa and her son stood a little way off. Walter shook their hands warmly and promised everything would be taken care of by morning. Rosa gave me one last gentle smile before they disappeared inside.
For the first time in forever, the air felt light.
Later, when the house was quiet and we were alone in our bedroom balcony, Hunter kissed me slow and deep, like he was trying to erase every bad memory. “I love you, Jilly. Tomorrow we burn the past and build something real.”
I melted into him, heart full. “I can’t wait.”
He fell asleep with his arm around me, breathing peacefully for the first time in months.
But at 3 AM, I couldn’t sleep. I slipped out of bed to get water.
On the kitchen island sat a small white envelope with my name written in elegant, familiar handwriting — Brenda’s.
My stomach dropped. I opened it with shaking fingers.
Inside was a single photograph — Hunter and a beautiful woman I didn’t recognize, locked in a passionate kiss. The date on the photo was only three weeks ago.
Underneath was a handwritten note:
“Still think you’ve won, darling?
Ask him about ‘Celine’.
Sweet dreams.
— Mother ❤️”
My knees nearly gave out.
I heard footsteps behind me. Hunter’s sleepy voice called softly, “Jilly? Everything okay?”
I quickly hid the photo behind my back, forcing a smile into the darkness.
“Yeah… everything’s fine.”
But my heart was pounding so hard I could barely breathe.
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Because the woman in the photo was wearing the exact necklace Brenda had accused Rosa of stealing.
To be continued...
