ETHAN'S POV,
The rain came lightly that morning, like a soft reminder from the sky that nothing stays dry forever.
I stood by the large windows of my office, watching the droplets gather on the glass, their paths uncertain but inevitable.
Everything lately felt like that, rushing toward something.
Carl's name was still a shadow behind my eyes. The legacy he hinted at wasn't just a family riddle anymore; it was shaping up to be a storm far older and more layered than I had imagined.
I had sent Ava off with a smile, tucking away the worry that clung like static to my thoughts. She needed space to breathe and lead, and I needed time to connect dots that didn't yet make sense.
The old files lay open on my desk. Carl's letter, now worn from constant handling, sat beside my father's journal. A journal I found locked in a floorboard compartment just days ago.
