A ghost of the past

t where Isla, Eleanor, and Lucian lived was filled with the comforting aroma of home-cooked food. It was

t at the dining table, flipping through some notes from her classes, her brows slightly furrowed in concentratio

f standing there looking like a lost puppy," Elea

e down. "I was just waiting for

himed in, giving him a pointed l

ly on the small dining table. "You know, Mom, you spend so much time buri

that were true, I'd have left you with Ele

knowing look. "Don't tempt her.

mock offense. "Wow. My own

heir tiny apartment feel like the safest place in the world. Despite the struggles they ha

ted of her, making sure both Isla and Lucian never felt alone. She was strong-willed, protective, a

her way, she refused to be defined by them. She was serious when it came to her studies,

had a quiet confidence, the kind that made people listen when he spoke. He was observant, sometimes

inning

ove and sorrow, determined to give him the life he deserved despite the circumstances of his conception. Raised by both I

and he learned not to ask. He saw the flicker of pain in her eyes whenever the subject arose, so he buried hi

s to a good education. They instilled in him the values of hard work and in

ay of unraveling

turned to Isla. "So,

ting. I had back-to-back lectures, and one

aid, giving her an encoura

looked between them. "And how about y

ines, annoying clients, and cowor

d. "I mean, y

her eyes but sm

tside might have been unpredictable, but in this small apartment, surrounded

st held or what the future would brin

door silenced them. It wasn't the usual friendly tap of a neig

tincts immediately on high alert. Lucian, sen

g someone?" Isla

hook her

ock-louder

od up. "I'

, a deep, unfamiliar voice from the oth

you're i