The old lady suddenly let out a wicked, almost feral laugh. “You’re out of your mind. At your age, you still believe in true love?”
Jules gave a bitter smile. “Mother, I have a son. I don’t want him to grow up cold and calculating, like I did. I want him to know the kind of love that’s real and pure. What I never had—I want him to have.”
She stared at him, genuinely thrown. “You’re not Jules. Are you? You haven’t caused trouble in ages. Why are you starting up again?”
Jules, ever gentle, smiled softly. “Mother, haven’t you noticed? I’ve been around a lot more lately. The other part of me is starting to fade away.”
“Maybe he’s just tired—tired of all the games and fighting. Maybe he wants to finally rest.”
Mrs. Vincent’s eyes turned sharp and dark. “Come with me. I’ll show you why you’re wrong.”
Jules rose to his feet. “I’ll prove it to you, Mother. I’m not going to change my mind. Every day, every moment, I’ll fight to stay in this world for Nathan—my boy. I won’t let anyone hurt him again.”
The old lady sighed, her breath heavy with regret. “Come on, then.”
Jules followed her outside and climbed into the sleek, black car, surprised when it headed back towards their house.
When they arrived, Mrs. Vincent didn’t go upstairs like she always did. Instead, she led Jules toward the back garden.
At the far end of the garden stood a place off-limits to everyone—enclosed by thick stone walls and guarded by a hulking, mean-eyed mastiff. Mrs. Vincent always said there were treasures back there, things too precious for anyone else to see, so she kept a man and his dog on guard, day and night.
All these years, Jules believed her and never once stepped foot near that forbidden spot. No one really knew what was hidden inside.
Mrs. Vincent gave a curt nod. “Open it.”

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