Chapter 20 - The Unseen Threat
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Two months passed in perfect, uninterrupted peace.
The apartment was transformed. I had painted the walls a crisp, bright white, installed new locks, and filled the living room with comfortable, modern furniture. Sophia thrived in her yellow bedroom, her laughter bouncing off the walls every morning.
I hadn't heard a single word from my parents or Karla. The silence was golden.
It was a rainy Tuesday evening. I was sitting at the kitchen island, drinking a glass of red wine and reviewing a new freelance contract on my laptop, while Sophia watched a movie on the rug.
Suddenly, a sharp, heavy knock echoed from the front door.
I froze. The building required a key fob to enter the main lobby. No one should have been able to make it up to the third floor without buzzing the intercom first.
I set my wine glass down, my heart suddenly hammering against my ribs. I walked softly toward the entryway, looking through the brass peephole.
The hallway was empty.
I frowned, unlocking the deadbolt and slowly pulling the heavy wooden door open a crack. There was no one standing on the concrete landing.
But sitting perfectly centered on my welcome mat was a small, plain white envelope.
I picked it up, feeling a cold spike of dread settle into my stomach. There was no stamp. No return address. Just my name written in sharp, familiar handwriting.
It wasn't my mother's handwriting. It wasn't Karla's.
It was my ex-husband’s.
I tore the envelope open with trembling fingers, pulling out a single sheet of paper.
May you like
Laura, I know about the apartment. We were still married when you cleared the liens. See you in court.
I stared at the paper, the sound of the rain beating against the windows suddenly feeling incredibly loud. The war with my family was over, but looking at the letter in my hand, I realized a brand new nightmare had just arrived at my doorstep.
