Love and Hope
James invites Emily to dinner at a posh Italian restaurant. As she steps out of her house, shes intercepted by Mrs. Fairfax.
*”They say only a diamond can cut another diamond,”* the professor remarks cryptically.
*”Im sorry? I dont understand.”*
*”Youre still young,”* the older woman smiles. *”Believe me, people dont fall in love just once in a lifetime.”*
*”Mrs. Fairfax, I swear, nothing is happening between me and James.”*
*”Maybe not yet. But that doesnt mean it wont. Dont close your heart, Emily. Life has a way of surprising yousometimes bringing the greatest happiness when you least expect it.”*
*”Did you feel that way too?”*
*”Well Arthur wasnt my first love,”* Mrs. Fairfax replies calmly, a shadow of memory flickering in her eyes. *”Once, I loved someone else. I thought I wouldnt survive losing him, that Id never breathe again without him. Then Arthur came along. Everything changed. I was happy. Truly happy. Thats why Im telling youdont shut yourself off. Love might be closer than you think.”*
*”I always thought Uncle Arthur was your first love.”*
*”He wasnt mine, and I wasnt his. But Ill tell you thisyou never forget your first love.”*
Emily sighs, thanks her, and walks toward the car where James is waiting.
The moment she leaves, Belinda steps onto the porch, fixing Mrs. Fairfax with a cold smile.
*”Have you decided to become Emilys new mother? Giving her love advice, sharing stories you never told me.”*
*”I did it for Clara,”* Mrs. Fairfax answers without hesitation. *”Because only one thing can truly separate Emily and Edward.”*
*”And whats that?”*
*”Emily falling in love with someone else,”* she replies, firm and quiet.
***
Louisa, shattered after her argument with Oliver, stumbles down the road, her face pale, eyes emptyas if the world around her no longer exists.
She doesnt see the car speeding toward her.
Screeching tires. A jarring impact.
Screams erupt. Someone calls an ambulance.
Louisa lies motionless on the pavement. Passersby gather around. A woman kneels beside her, checking for a pulse.
*”Can you hear me? Hello?!”*
No response. Louisa doesnt stir.
***
Margaret approaches a clearing in the woods, where Adrian waits in the dim light between the trees. His figure blends with the shadows, but his gaze is cold and unyielding.
*”Heres the two million,”* she says flatly, handing him a leather bag stuffed with cash.
Unseen, Natalie followsshes been trailing Margaret from the house, determined to uncover the truth. Now, hidden in thick undergrowth just feet away, she watches in disbelief.
*”Adrian that money its mine!”* she whispers, struggling to contain her fury. Seeing him count the notes, her eyes burn with rage. *”The audacity”* She pulls out her phone and begins recording.
Adrian finishes counting and smirks.
*”Thats all of it. Now will you leave us alone?”* Margaret asks, tension in her voice.
A twig snaps in the silence.
Adrian whirls around.
*”Did you hear that? Someones here. I told you to come alone!”*
*”I did come alone!”* Margaret insists. *”No one followed me, I swear!”*
Adrian doesnt believe her. He moves toward the sound, shoving aside branchesthen freezes when he spots Natalie, phone in hand.
Fury flashes in his eyes. He pulls a knife from his pocket.
*”Well, well an eavesdropper,”* he hisses. *”You know, curiosity can get you into serious trouble.”*
Natalie steps back, her hands trembling.
*”Adrian, leave her,”* Margaret snaps. *”Dont be an idiot.”*
*”Show me whats in your bag,”* he demands.
*”Leave me alone!”* Natalie protests.
*”Why are you here?”* Margaret cuts in.
*”Whats going on? What are you plotting?”* Natalie exclaims. *”Im calling the police!”*
*”No, were not plotting anything!”* Margaret shouts. *”He blackmailed me! Threatened to kill Oliver and Sarah if I didnt pay!”*
Natalie reaches for her phone.
*”Im calling the police right now!”*
*”DONT YOU DARE!”* Adrian roars, raising the knife. *”Ill kill you!”*
*”HELP! SOMEONE HELP!”* Natalie screams, stumbling backward.
*”ADRIAN, STOP!”* Margaret lunges at him.
But hes beyond reason. He shoves her aside, sending her crashing to the ground. His wild eyes lock onto Natalie, who cowers in terror.
*”You first,”* he snarls. *”Then Oliver. Hell find you covered in blood. And then Ill kill him too!”*
The knife flashes downbut Natalie grabs his wrist at the last second. They struggle, locked in a desperate fight, breaths ragged, the tension unbearable
Then, in a sudden twist, the blade turns in their tangled handsand plunges deep into Adrians chest.
He freezes. Shock, then pain, flickers across his face. A gurgling sound escapes his lips before he collapses like a puppet with cut strings.
Margaret staggers forward, presses trembling fingers to his neck. Silence.
*”Hes dead,”* she whispers, ghostly pale. *”Hes dead.”*
*”Oh God OH GOD!”* Natalie wails. *”It wasnt me! It was an accident! Call an ambulance! Maybe hes still alive! DO SOMETHING!”*
*”Shut up!”* Margaret hisses, gripping her shoulders. *”Stop screaming! Do you want the whole world to hear? Do you want to go to prison?”*
*”Prison?!”* Natalie sobs. *”But I didnt mean to! You saw meI was defending myself! Im not a murderer!”*
*”The truth doesnt matter!”* Margarets voice is desperate but firm. *”The police wont believe you! And if this gets out people will say Olivers mother is a killer!”*
*”IM NOT A KILLER!”* Natalie shrieks.
*”Mrs. Fairchild, please,”* Margaret pleads. *”Pull yourself together. No one has to know. Nothing happened. Do you understand? NOTHING. HAPPENED.”*
*”But hes hes lying there”* Natalie trembles violently.
*”We cant help him now. But you can. Come on. Hes gone. Were alive. Thats all that matters.”*
Margaret wraps an arm around her, steadying her as if holding the world together. Slowly, she leads Natalie away, leaving Adrians body behind in the silent woodshis fingers still clenched around the knife.
The secret swallowed by the forest may never see daylight again.
***
Oliver, summoned by Sarahs urgent call, bursts into the house breathless. He stops dead in the doorway when he sees her standing with a suitcase, her face pale, eyes wet but resolute.
*”Im leaving,”* she says softly, pressing a kiss to his cheek. *”I wont disturb you or your mother anymore. Goodbye, Oliver. Be happy.”*
*”Sarah, what are you talking about?”* he asks, stunned. *”What does this have to do with my mum?”*
*”She knows about that night. Everything that happened between us.”*
Oliver runs a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.
*”Bloody hell How did she find out?”*
*”She read the letter I left the day I took the pills.”*
*”Wait,”* he frowns. *”You told me it wasnt suicide”*
*”I lied to spare you,”* she whispers. *”But your mother doesnt want me here. Shes afraid youll marry me. And she offered us money. Me and my mum. To leave.”*
Oliver stares at her, horrified.
*”She WHAT?”*
*”We refused. Id never take it. So now Im going. Its better for everyone.”*
*”Sarah, youre not going anywhere,”* he snaps, shoving the suitcase aside. *”I wont let you disappear from my life.”*
*”I dont have a choice, Oliver,”* she says, voice breaking. *”My mum knows. She said I ruined my
