Chapter 20 - THE LIGHT IN THE WINDOWOne year after the pool incident, Harbor Cove glowed beneath a golden sunset.
Leo ran barefoot across the lawn.
Elena chased him, laughing.
Marcus stood on the porch holding three glasses of lemonade.
“Dinner!”
Leo ignored him.
Elena laughed.
Marcus watched her.
There was love in his expression now.
Not possession.
Not guilt.
Love.
Elena saw it.
She didn't look away.
Marcus walked toward her.
“Are you happy?”
Elena looked toward the ocean.
Then at Leo.
Then back at Marcus.
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“So am I.”
Their hands touched.
This time, Elena didn't pull away.
Behind them, Leo squealed as another wave rolled toward the shore.
For once, the future didn't feel frightening.
It felt unwritten.
Then Elena noticed something.
A black SUV was parked beyond the distant coastal road.
Its windows were tinted.
The engine was running.
“Marcus?”
He followed her gaze.
The SUV began moving.
Slowly.
Then disappeared around the bend.
Marcus's expression changed.
“What?”
Elena didn't answer.
Something had been left inside their mailbox.
Marcus retrieved it.
No stamp.
No return address.
Inside was a photograph.
The photograph showed Elena standing beside Leo on the Harbor Cove beach.
It had been taken that morning.
On the back were six handwritten words.
VICTORIA WAS NEVER WORKING ALONE.
Marcus stared at the message.
Elena pulled Leo closer.
Far down the highway, the black SUV disappeared into the evening.
The ocean continued rolling against the shore.
Their family was safe.
Victoria was behind bars.
The conspiracy had been exposed.
They had survived.
They had healed.
They had even found love where none of them expected it.
But somewhere beyond Harbor Cove—
someone was still watching.
May you like
And this time…
there was no camera in the hedge to reveal who.
