Chapter 61
Something Far More Serious
I stepped out of the house, the worn strap of my old medical kit biting into my shoulder.
The black Roll Royce parked in front of our house caught the morning light like a blade, sharp and out of place on our dusty, familiar road. Its presence alone sliced through the quiet, stirring whispers from every direction.
Neighbors emerged like startled birds, peeking from windows, doorways, and behind half-drawn curtains. The murmurs rose, layered and overlapping, soft at first, then gaining shape and momentum.
"Whose car is that? That's not from around here!"
"Look! Where is Alayna going? She's walking toward that luxury car."
"Is that car for her?"
"Must be the Haltons. She's practically their future in law now."
"No, no. That's a ministry plate. My cousin works in logistics. I'd know that emblem anywhere!"
