Chapter 24

A stone's throw away from the bar, Amelia's phone buzzed, pulling her attention away from her thoughts and onto the notification she had just received. She carefully opened her bag and retrieved her phone, her fingers deftly navigating the screen as she read through the message from Mr. Lawrence.

Mr. Lawrence had texted Amelia to prepare for a visit to Mr. Nick's house the next day. He and Alex had decided to keep secret their prior visit to survey the environment and the fact that Mr. Nick had already sold his house. They agreed it was best for Amelia to discover this on her own, believing it would be easier to manage her reaction.

Amelia's eyes widened slightly as she processed the information. After a moment's pause, she quickly typed out a response, confirming that she had received the message and was willing to join him tomorrow.

Just as she was about to press send, a car sped out of the bar's driveway, its engine roaring loudly. The sudden movement caught her attention, and she