Chapter 1: The Ghosts We Outrun
Audrey
Four years. It’s strange how an amount of time that sounds so monumental can pass in the blink of an eye when you are entirely consumed by survival.
"Leo, please don't feed your brother's toast to the dog!" I called out, wiping a smudge of flour from my forehead with the back of my hand.
From the rustic wooden dining table of my small cottage, a pair of piercing, slate-gray eyes looked back at me. They were innocent, framed by thick lashes, but the shade of them made my breath hitch. Every single time.
"But Mama, Buster is hungry," three-year-old Leo argued, his messy dark hair falling over his forehead. Beside him, his identical twin, Lucas, giggled, his own dark curls bouncing as he shoved a handful of blueberries into his mouth.
"Buster has his own food, bug," I said, walking over to press a kiss to Leo’s temple, then doing the same for Lucas.
They were beautiful. They were perfect. And they were the exact replicas of the man I had left behind in a billion-dollar glass tower four years ago.
When I fled Chicago, I hadn't just changed my zip code; I had erased Audrey Meridian from existence. I reverted to my maiden name, Audrey Hayes. I drained the modest savings from my personal account—money I had earned as a freelance graphic designer, untouched by Julian’s empire—and bought a struggling, picturesque bed-and-breakfast in the quiet mountains of upstate New York.
The Whispering Pines Inn was my sanctuary. It kept me busy, kept me housed, and most importantly, kept me hidden.
"Mama, can we go to the lake today?" Lucas asked, his little hands gripping my apron.
"After the morning check-ins, I promise," I smiled, though my mind was already racing through today’s endless to-do list. The inn was fully booked for the autumn foliage season, but the financial reality of running a century-old property was catching up to me. The roof needed repairs, the plumbing was ancient, and property taxes were skyrocketing.
For the past month, I had been in negotiations with a boutique hospitality group interested in buying a majority stake in the inn. It pained me to give up control, but the investors promised a massive cash injection while letting me stay on as the general manager. It was the only way to secure the boys' future.
The final paperwork was supposed to be signed today. The CEO of the parent company was flying in personally to inspect the property.
"Alright, boys, finish up," I clapped my hands lightly. "Mrs. Higgins is coming to watch you while Mama meets with the important businessmen."
As I ushered the twins toward the living room, my phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. An email notification popped up on the screen.
May you like
From: Marcus Vance, VP of Acquisitions
Subject: Arrival time
Ms. Hayes, our CEO will be arriving at the property at 2:00 PM. We look forward to finalizing the acquisition.
I took a deep breath, smoothing down my simple linen dress. Today was about securing a future for Leo and Lucas. Nothing else mattered. I had built a fortress around my heart, and it was impenetrable. Or so I thought.
