Chapter 58
Allison's POV
It was already late night when I got off the plane, and I immediately rushed to the police station. I was still confused by Emily's threatening words that made me return. Had Julie really gotten into serious trouble?
The station buzzed with activity, but everything seemed to move in slow motion as I approached the reception desk. Before I could speak, I spotted my husband waving from a waiting area where the entire Grey family had gathered.
"What's going on?" I demanded, my voice higher than normal. "Why is everyone here?"
Lucy stood up with her arms crossed. "Well, look who finally decided to show up. Your daughter is dead, and you're just now getting here? Was your precious work meeting that important?"
"Lucy!" Robert snapped.
I stared at her, then at the rest of my family's grim faces. "This is insane. Julie can't be—" My voice cracked. "She texted me just the other day."
My husband took my hands in his, his eyes red-rimmed and swollen. "I identified her, Allison. I wish to God I hadn't needed to, but I did. It's her."
I shook my head violently. "No. No, that's impossible. There must be some mistake."
A woman in scrubs approached. "Mrs. Grey. If you're ready, I can take you to see your daughter."
I followed her in a daze, my husband's arm around my shoulders the only thing keeping me upright. As we walked down that sterile hallway, reality began to crack through my denial.
The cold of the morgue hit me first, then the smell of antiseptic. When she pulled back the sheet, the world collapsed around me.
Julie's face—my baby's face—was pale and still. Her bright smile, her animated expressions—all gone. I reached out with trembling fingers to touch her cheek.
"Julie?" I whispered. "Sweetheart, Mommy's here. Open your eyes, baby. Please open your eyes."
I gathered her cold body in my arms, a primal wail tearing from my throat. "Julie! Wake up!"
Memories flooded through me—Julie at five, waiting up for me after a late business meeting, her little face lighting up when I walked through the door; Julie at sixteen, understanding when I missed her debate competition for an emergency conference call; Julie just last month, proudly showing me her growing social media following.
My sweet, understanding girl who never complained about my long hours or frequent trips. Who knew how important my career was and supported me anyway.
"I'm sorry," I sobbed against her hair. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. I should have been there."
As my legs gave way, Robert's arms supported me. "The police will catch the killer."
"I just want my daughter back. What good does catching the killer do? It won't bring my Julie back!" I completely broke down, and everything faded to darkness.
Emily's POV
Everyone had taken the unconscious Allison back to the Grey Manor. I sat alone in the garden of the estate, the cold night air whipping my hair across my face. Inside, the house blazed with lights as relatives gathered to plan Julie's funeral.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Julie's face. Not the waxy, lifeless mask I'd seen at the crime scene, but Julie alive—always following me around as a child, her eyes filled with admiration, sharing everything with me.
The cold numbed my fingers, but I welcomed it. It matched the hollowness spreading inside me.
Footsteps crunched on the gravel path behind me. I didn't need to turn around.
"I heard about Julie," Simon's voice was soft, hesitant. "I'm so sorry, Emily."
I blinked hard, my vision blurry with tears. For a moment, I was transported back to when my mother died—Simon comforting me as I cried, promising to always be my friend, to never leave me alone.
"People just... disappear," I whispered. "One day they're here, and then they're gone. All those connections we think are so strong—they snap so easily."
Simon sat beside me, offering silent support. The familiarity of his presence hurt worse than his absence had.
I wiped my eyes and turned to him, suddenly cold in a different way. "I don't want to see you anymore, Simon. I still can't forgive you."
"Emily, I never betrayed you—"
"Didn't you?" I cut him off. "I was just a replacement, wasn't I? You lost your best friend from childhood, so you found me as a replacement."
Simon reached for my hand. "That's not true. You were never a replacement. Even if she came back, you wouldn't disappear from my life."
I looked at him, really looked at him, and realized I'd never truly known him. All those years of friendship, and I'd missed something essential.
"Don't," I said, pulling my hand away. "I'm vulnerable right now, but I don't need your comfort. Just leave me alone, Simon."
Sophia's POV
I quietly followed Simon to the garden, where I saw Emily sitting alone.
Simon approached Emily, and I watched their interaction until Simon was sent away by Emily.
As Simon was leaving, I followed him, deliberately making my footsteps audible.
"Looks like you've been thoroughly exiled from Emily's universe," I said to his retreating back.
Simon stopped and turned toward me, annoyance flashing in his eyes.
"How much did you hear?" he asked quietly.
"Enough," I smiled, enjoying his discomfort. "So, Emily finally discovered she was just a stand-in for your childhood sweetheart?"
"She misunderstood," Simon defended, his voice tense. "She's not a replacement."
"Is that so?"
"Mind your own business," he said with a touch of anger.
"I'm just enjoying Emily's misery. And Julie's death has hit Allison hard. I hear she might resign from her position at the company, and I'll soon replace her."
"But what a coincidence that right after you promised to help me gain control of the Grey family business, something happened to the family," I continued.
Simon turned and walked away without acknowledging me.
A terrible thought flashed through my mind—was all of this really just coincidence? Julie's death, Allison's potential resignation, Simon's promises to me... the timing was too perfect.
But I quickly dismissed the idea. Simon might be a liar, but he couldn't be a murderer. What was I thinking?