Chapter 3 : Unveiling Secrets

The following morning, Olivia’s mind was racing with thoughts of Mary and Samuel. She couldn’t shake the idea that there was more to uncover, and the urgency to connect the dots consumed her. As she sat at the kitchen table, sipping her coffee, her grandmother entered the room, humming a familiar tune. Olivia watched her closely, wondering how much she really knew about the past.

“Morning, sweetie,” her grandmother said with a warm smile. “You’re up early.”

“Yeah,” Olivia replied, trying to sound casual. “I’ve just been thinking a lot lately… about family, about the past.”

Her grandmother’s smile faltered for a split second, but she quickly recovered. “That’s good. It’s always important to remember where we come from.”

Olivia hesitated before speaking. “Grandma, did you know someone named Samuel? Samuel Davis?”

The color drained from her grandmother’s face. She sat down slowly, her hands trembling slightly as she placed them on the table. For a moment, there was only silence between them.

“Where did you hear that name?” her grandmother asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Olivia took a deep breath and decided to come clean. “I found some letters in the attic. They were from Mary—your mother—and they were addressed to Samuel. I know they were in love. But I also found out that Samuel disappeared, and I think it has something to do with our family.”

Her grandmother’s eyes filled with tears, and for the first time, Olivia saw her as vulnerable, as someone who had been carrying a heavy burden for years. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath.

“I suppose it was only a matter of time before you found out,” her grandmother said softly. “Yes, Mary and Samuel were in love. They were young, and their love was... intense. But it was forbidden. Samuel wasn’t from a family like ours, and your great-grandfather wouldn’t allow it.”

Olivia’s heart ached. “So what happened? Why did Samuel disappear?”

Her grandmother looked away, her voice shaking. “I don’t know for sure. But I always suspected that my father had something to do with it. Samuel was sent away—forced to leave, I think. Mary was devastated. She never spoke of him again after that summer.”

Olivia’s stomach churned with the weight of this revelation. “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this? Why keep it a secret?”

“Because it’s painful,” her grandmother replied, her voice breaking. “Mary never recovered from losing Samuel. She married your grandfather, but her heart was never in it. I didn’t want you to carry that pain.”

Olivia felt a surge of anger mixed with sorrow. “But I need to know the truth, Grandma. I need to understand what really happened.”

Her grandmother sighed deeply, her expression weary. “There’s one place you might find more answers—the old family estate. No one’s been there in years, but your great-grandfather kept everything. Maybe there’s something there that can help you.”

Olivia nodded, determined to follow this new lead. “I’ll go.”

Later that day, Olivia and Mia stood in front of the old Carter estate, a sprawling, dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of town. The once-grand house was now overgrown with vines, its windows dusty and broken. It was the kind of place that held too many memories—both good and bad.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Mia muttered as they pushed open the rusted gate and stepped onto the property.

“Me too,” Olivia admitted, but she was determined to find the answers she sought. They made their way inside, the floorboards creaking under their weight. Dust floated in the air, and the smell of decay lingered in the corners of the rooms.

They searched through old trunks and boxes, flipping through papers and letters, but there was nothing about Samuel. Olivia’s frustration grew with every passing minute.

“We’re missing something,” Olivia said, her voice tense. “There has to be more.”

Just as they were about to give up, Mia spotted something hidden beneath an old rug in the corner of the room. She pulled it back to reveal a small wooden trapdoor.

“What’s this?” Mia asked, her eyes wide.

Olivia’s heart raced. “Only one way to find out.”

They pried open the door and found a narrow staircase leading down into the dark. With a flashlight in hand, Olivia led the way, her pulse pounding in her ears. At the bottom of the stairs, they found a small, hidden room.

Inside, there was a table covered in old documents, photos, and letters. Olivia’s hands shook as she reached for a stack of papers tied with a red ribbon. She untied it carefully and began reading.

It was a series of letters from Samuel to Mary—letters that had never been sent. In them, Samuel wrote about his love for her, his fear of her family, and his plan to run away together. But something had gone wrong.

The last letter was different. It was short, and the handwriting was shaky. In it, Samuel begged Mary to meet him one last time at the park, but he never mentioned what had happened next.

“This is it,” Olivia whispered. “He was planning to run away with her.”

“But something stopped him,” Mia added, her voice hushed. “Maybe her family.”

As they continued searching, Olivia found an old, yellowed piece of paper at the bottom of the pile. It was a notice of death—Samuel Davis, dated just days after his final letter. Her breath caught in her throat as she read the details.

“Samuel was found dead in the river,” Olivia said, her voice barely audible. “It was ruled an accident, but...”

“But it wasn’t,” Mia finished, her eyes wide with shock.

Olivia’s mind reeled. The mystery had taken a dark turn, and now, more than ever, she was determined to uncover the truth. Samuel hadn’t just disappeared—he had died. And someone had covered it up.

“We need to figure out who’s responsible for this,” Olivia said, her voice steely with determination.

Mia nodded, her face pale. “This is bigger than we thought.”

As they left the estate, Olivia felt the weight of the past pressing down on her, but she also felt a fierce resolve. She had to uncover the truth—for Samuel, for Mary, and for her family. And she wouldn’t stop until she did.

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