Chapter 83

Before Abby could recall Sarah’s name, Alex’s eyes rested on the same doll. He held out his hand and hesitated for another moment.

“Abby… can I have that one?” he asked, his voice uncertain.

Abby’s attention was diverted, and she blinked. “Why?”

Alex glanced toward Linda before looking down. “I want to give it to… her.”

Abby hesitated. She didn’t want to give up the doll she had chosen for Sarah, but she also didn’t want to be selfish. She pressed her lips together, thinking hard.

“I… I wanted to give it to an aunt,” she explained. “I played with her today. She’s really nice.”

The adults around them didn’t pay much attention to Abby’s words, but Alex did. As he listened to her talk about her time with her aunt, something strange stirred inside him.

The games Abby described–the playful running, the laughter, the way her aunt had spun her around in the air–felt oddly familiar.

He had played those games too… when he was little.

With his mother.

He was inexplicably a little lost in his mind. He was supposed to play these games with his own mother

today as well, but he met his father and Aunt In 10:

Just then, Abby’s eyes caught something else on the table. “Oh! There’s another one!”

She grabbed another similar doll and handed it to Alex. “Here. Now we both have one.”

Alex’s face lit up with relief. “Thanks!” He quickly ran over to Linda and handed her the doll.

Linda looked down at it, slightly surprised. “What’s this for?”

“For you.” Alex shifted on his feet, suddenly a little embarrassed. “Abby picked one for her aunt, so I thought… you should have one too.”

Linda’s lips curled into a small smile, but there was something unreadable in her eyes. She accepted the doll, running her fingers over its soft fabric.

the exchange, suddenly asked, “Are you going to get one for your mom

14:08

Crippled Lunek

Chapter 83

Alex froze.

so focused on Linda that he had forgotten. His

pressure in his chest.

saw how Alex’s small hands clenched at his sides, how Linda’s fingers tightened around the

Something was off.

Cole intended to figure out

Sarah was sitting in her car, staring at her phone.

uncle, Alexander, had just called. His

My company was pushed out of a major deal today. Someone intentionally blocked us. And I found

she had asked, gripping the steering

had been a long pause before her uncle answered.

Sarah’s breath caught.

Linda.

left a bitter taste in her mouth.

this wasn’t a coincidence. It was a message. A warning.

her contacts

phone rang.

picked

“Hello.”

phone tightened. She

Linda.

14:00

heavy, even through

speak with Arnold,” Sarah said,

taking a shower right now. You can talk to me if you need anything.”

into

Of course.

her know that she

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