Three years later…

The morning sun poured through the tall windows of the Thompson mansion, flooding the room with soft gold.

Laughter echoed from the garden, small feet running across the grass, a child’s giggle breaking the silence that once haunted the house.

Astrid stood by the balcony, her long hair brushing her shoulders. She wore a simple white dress, the kind she used to dream of wearing when peace finally found her. In the garden was a little boy, bright-eyed, full of life, his father’s smile shining through him.

“Slow down, Noah!” Andrew called from the yard, laughing as their son raced past him with a toy plane.

Astrid...