She sat alone in the car, her hands locked in a white-knuckled grip around the steering wheel, her body trembling ever so slightly.
Wilhelmina, in her memory, had always been so kind to her.
Back then, before Silvia had been officially recognized and brought back into the Ashford family, she’d often visit the Ashford estate with her adoptive mother. Those visits were rough—Silvia was an outsider, and the others made sure she felt it.
But every time, Wilhelmina would appear by her side, her presence gentle and reassuring, always ready to help.
And when the truth finally came out—that Silvia was her long-lost granddaughter—Wilhelmina had embraced her and sobbed, unable to hold back her emotions.
Through her tears, Wilhelmina had rambled on, saying that she’d always felt a strange sense of familiarity whenever she saw Silvia, which was why she’d been so willing to help. Now it made sense—Silvia was her own flesh and blood.
When Silvia had first returned to the Ashford family, everyone felt like strangers. Everyone, that is, except for Wilhelmina, who stayed by her side, comforting her, never leaving her alone. It was Wilhelmina’s patient companionship that slowly chipped away at the walls Silvia had built around her heart.
Thinking of all this, Silvia raised her hand and gently brushed away her tears.
No matter how wonderful her grandmother had been, Silvia was determined to get to the bottom of what happened all those years ago.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated, snapping her out of her thoughts.
She glanced at the screen—it was the female detective calling. Silvia answered immediately.
“Miss Ashford, sorry to trouble you, but could you come down to the station? We need your signature on some paperwork for the case.”
Silvia’s mind raced. More paperwork? Did this mean Gray had recanted his confession?
A flicker of hope sparked inside her, and she pressed the gas pedal a little harder as she drove to the police station.
When Silvia walked in, she immediately noticed the detective’s hesitant expression.

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