Ste hesitated, unsure how to exin, and stayed silent.


    Be’s eyes moved from Bet to Byron, then to Kyra.


    Her brow knitted slightly.


    “Who are you? Ste is my daughter.


    What do you need from her?”


    Her tone was still gentle, but there was now a trace of suspicion.


    Ste clutched the nket tightly, her eyes seeking guidance from Matthew.


    Matthew gave a subtle shake of his head.


    He knew what they had discussed, but his mind had settled on a different conclusion.


    Be might appear delicate, but he knew her heart was far stronger than it seemed.


    Matthew was confident that Be could withstand whatever challengesy ahead.


    The Lowells had reached out to Ste, and now it was only a matter of time before the secrets of the past resurfaced.


    Byron’s eyes lingered on Be as he finally broke the silence.


    “Are you Kori’s wife?”


    His voice wavered, uncertain and searching.


    Be’s mind raced to the familiar name, and she hesitated before asking, “What’s your connection to Kori?”


    Byron’s response was measured.


    “Kori is our son.


    ”


    He then shared the story of what had transpired long ago again, his words tinged with the weight of the past.


    As he finished, he looked at Be, a hint of anxiety in his gaze.


    “We came in such a hurry that we didn’t bring any pictures of him with us.


    But we can show you his photos another day.


    ”


    Both Byron and Kyra appeared heavy with regret.


    Bet reached into his pocket and carefully drew out a photograph.


    “I brought one,” he said softly.


    The picture he held was the restored image of the family of three.


    He extended the photo to Be, who took it with a tremor in her hand.


    As she studied the cheerful faces in the photograph, her mind was flooded with disjointed memories that seemed to flicker and fade.


    A sudden, sharp pain pierced her head, making her knees buckle.


    Ste rushed to her side and caught her, a note of rm in her voice.


    “Mom.


    ”


    Byron and Kyra exchanged bewildered nces, clearly unprepared for such a reaction.


    Ste quickly filled them in.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    “After the car ident, both my mom and I lost parts of our memories.


    We still struggle to piece together our past.


    ”