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Two Years Gone - Two Secrets Born

Chapter 3 Shifting Ground

Word Count: 1382    |    Released on: 07/06/2025

es and her head in her hands. The echo of Cherry's screams haunted her

isolation, but nothing like this. Being arrested wa

rridor. Heavy, precise. Moni

e heard

niq

s lifte

ll in uniform, though the tie was looser now. His fa

uard said gruffly, stepping aw

I shouldn't be here, but I had to

her ears. "If this is about Ch

ed. "I'm not h

at then? Want to feel better about dr

was pr

ou had a choice. You

t. "I didn't know about Ch

scared, just like you did as a kid. She loves blueberries and hates the col

n't sa

dn't ha

s a long

before," he said finally.

osted me, Jace. I found out I was pregnant and you were gone

who disappeared

d her hand on the table. "Don't even do that, I fled because I had no choice. Someone was

ion darkene

know he's behind

But I can't p

ou helping him

. "That's why I'm here, to

on't get to play hero now. You had your chance to pro

y, ashamed. "Wh

ing the lump in her throat. "Just unt

g to help

need it. You al

into Billy's connections, find out who tampered with the apartment lease, who pl

she saw the old Jace, the one who held her hand after her mother's funeral

is cheap," she

ire in her step. She sat across from Monique in the same

aring. It's scheduled

caught. "They'l

u keep her. But it's a long sho

e wh

mething big enough to cast doubt on the prosecution

"Billy wanted me under his control back then. He offered me money. Exposure. Said

rd h

n't ask for. He knew where I lived. I told Jace back when

d. "So Jace knew yo

es

te. "That could be useful. Especially now

a wary look. "D

. But I believe he re

When we got together, I thought I could finally breath

nymore," Ruby said gen

at if I

eep fighti

ight dimmed. A file lay open on his desk, Ava Morris, 27, deceased. No prior

involved with it after she finished her own counse

through the

with. Timestamps didn't match. Audio was missing.

ng the bridge of his nose. Guilt gn

her. In his o

r, she was paying the p

es. Monique stood at the defendant's table, Ruby by her side. Across fro

's heart ached with every second s

rose

ased on character references, employment history, and evidence that the charges a

short white hair, raised an eyebrow

uby replied, "but we can provide sworn st

e dropped, we recommend continued temporary

s fists

voice hoarse. "She's never slept without m

a calming ha

rges, we must proceed with caution. But I will all

que's eyes. "Than

y, not yet but it was

o hold her

on room with toys lined neatly on shelves and a s

herry was led inside, Moni

red uncertain, guarded, clutching Blue t

herry

walls ca

om

e caught her, tears

bbed. "I didn't like it t

m gonna bring you

d for the first time since the arrest, Mon

o

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1 Chapter 1 Homecoming2 Chapter 2 The Knock and The Handcuff3 Chapter 3 Shifting Ground4 Chapter 4 The Weight of Silence5 Chapter 5 Bargains and Ghosts6 Chapter 6 Smoke Behind the Curtain7 Chapter 7 Beneath the Surface8 Chapter 8 Threads of Deception9 Chapter 9 Echoes of Her Voice10 Chapter 10 The Fifth Mother11 Chapter 11 The Sound of the Missing12 Chapter 12 The Orchard Gate13 Chapter 13 The Name They Couldn't Erase14 Chapter 14 The Proxy15 Chapter 15 Threads of the Past16 Chapter 16 The Man in the Shadows17 Chapter 17 The Six-Day Clock18 Chapter 18 Beneath the Garden19 Chapter 19 Into the Quiet Night20 Chapter 20 The Men Behind the Curtain21 Chapter 21 Shadows Between Us22 Chapter 22 Fractured Echoes23 Chapter 23 The Visitor at Dusk24 Chapter 24 A Hand on the Wall25 Chapter 25 The Clock Is Ticking26 Chapter 26 Past Due27 Chapter 27 Fragments of the Past28 Chapter 28 The Edge of the Truth29 Chapter 29 The Hidden Hallways30 Chapter 30 Shadows of the Nursery31 Chapter 31 The Stand32 Chapter 32 The People vs. Monique Taylor33 Chapter 33 Cracks Beneath the Verdict34 Chapter 34 Quiet Turns to Trust35 Chapter 35 Shifting Grounds36 Chapter 36 Threads of Truth37 Chapter 37 A Shift in the Wind38 Chapter 38 The Cracks in the Appeal39 Chapter 39 Beneath the Weight of Truth40 Chapter 40 The Walls Have Ears41 Chapter 41 The Safehouse42 Chapter 42 The Second Witness43 Chapter 43 The Truth44 Chapter 44 The Fallout45 Chapter 45 Shadows Bite Back46 Chapter 46 Tides Closing In47 Chapter 47 The Snare Tightens48 Chapter 48 The Watchers