The silence that followed was deafening. Anne sat frozen, her thoughts reeling. The hope of finally reconnecting with her biological family now mingled with unease. Doubts crept in, clouding the excitement that had sparkled in her just moments ago.
"So… you think I shouldn't trust them?"
Paule shook his head. "That's not what I'm saying. I saw the tears in that woman's eyes. They weren't fake. She truly missed her daughter. And Nathan...his desperation to find his sister didn't feel like an act. I don't think they are lying."
He paused, hesitating. "But something still feels off. There might be someone else in that family, a hidden enemy, maybe I'm not sure. Maybe I'm just being paranoid."
A heavy breath escaped his lips, his shoulders sagging. "It's just… you've been through so much since you were a child. Patricia and Lorie treated you poorly, and I failed to protect you the way I should have.
Anne opened her mouth to speak, but he raised a hand to stop her.
