Chapter 1 - The Flame Beside the BedOlivia Hayes held a lit lighter inches from Noah’s hair.
“Stay still!”
Grace Turner rushed across the bedroom, struck Olivia’s wrist aside, and sent the lighter sliding across the walnut floor. She pushed Olivia away, then wrapped both arms around the trembling boy.
“Get away from him!”
The bedroom door opened. Ethan saw the lighter still burning, the darkened tips of Noah’s hair, and Grace shielding his son.
Olivia’s fury disappeared instantly. She touched her forehead and softened her voice as though she had been attacked.
“You’ll regret this.”
She stepped toward Ethan. He pushed her back once, dropping her onto the carpet, then knelt and pulled Noah into his arms.
“Don’t ever touch my son again.”
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Near the lighter lay a scorched envelope Noah had refused to surrender. Ethan recognized the seal of the Miriam Hayes Memorial Foundation, created after Noah’s mother died.
Olivia had told him every original foundation record had been destroyed in an accidental fire.
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