Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown novel Chapter 124

Cynthia Lynwood felt a whirl of emotions as she led Aaron to the seaside café.

Standing at the entrance, she said, "This is the place."

Last night, the thought of Aaron and Serena's upcoming wedding left her restless. She could no longer use her illness as an excuse to keep Aaron by her side. It was as if she were an ant scurrying on a hot pan, desperate and frantic.

Just when she thought there was no way out, she stumbled upon a figure that looked exactly like Evelyn. Cynthia had spent a year in close company with Evelyn and couldn’t possibly mistake her.

Aaron pushed open the café door, slipping the staff a generous tip. In return, they handed over the previous night's surveillance footage. Aaron slowly scrolled through the timeline as Cynthia had instructed. Suddenly, his eyes widened, fixated on a red figure at the café's entrance.

The figure faced away from the camera, revealing only the silhouette and a glimpse of a profile. It was impossible to confirm the identity. Yet, the resemblance to Evelyn was uncanny.

Aaron's eyes narrowed sharply. Could his sister, who had been presumed dead for seven years, still be alive?

Meanwhile, at the hotel, William had lost count of how many times he had watched the same footage. He clicked play once more.

Frederick rubbed his tired eyes and stopped William, "Let's take a break. We’ve watched this over thirty times. Whoever it is, they’re cautious and likely familiar with the hotel. Otherwise, how could they only capture a silhouette?"

William massaged his temples. He desperately needed rest. Since Serena's disappearance, he hadn’t slept a wink.

"What about the vehicles coming and going? Any new developments?" he asked.

"None," Frederick replied. "That day was Aaron's wedding, attended by everyone from Alderburg. All cars were checked, no issues found."

Serena opened her eyes to find herself lying on a pristine white bed. The sheets were freshly laundered, carrying a faint scent of detergent. She sat up, taking in the warmly decorated room, momentarily bewildered.

Next to the bed were her favorite gardenias. Just then, a gentle woman's voice came from outside the door.

"Joy, check if the young lady is awake. If she is, bring her the meal."

Serena's expression shifted rapidly. Had she been sold off to some remote place? Straining her ears, she could hear the sound of waves crashing. Was she on an island?

Her eyes scanned the room for a potential weapon but found none. Reluctantly, she picked up a small stool and positioned herself by the door, holding her breath and waiting for it to open.