But all that came next was defending what we had stolen.
Our love wasn’t enough.
Fighting our enemies wore us down until we had no energy left, no desire to fight. Until our love dissolved into ash, and our hearts were torn apart.
Sometimes fairy tales turn into nightmares.
Listen to my warning, child.
Don’t search for it.
Don’t seek the fairytale.
Don’t seek the money like your mother and me.
Run, Liesel.
Hide.
Don’t hunt.
Above everything else, don’t ever tell anyone the truth—who you are or what you know.
“I don’t understand,” I say. All this time my parents had money? They had a treasure? The only reason I grew up poor was because they weren’t strong enough to keep the money?
“It’s all in here.” He hands me an envelope.
I stare at it with big eyes as I begin to remove the letter from the envelope. “What is it?”
He puts his hand over mine, stopping me.
“Later. Read it later, when you’re alone. Then burn it. Forget about going after the money, the treasure. Lie to anyone who asks you about it.”
“I have so many questions,” I say, staring at the envelope cautiously.
“I know, and I wish we had more time.”
“Is this goodbye?”
“It is, my sweet daughter. It is.”
He leans forward and kisses me on the cheek before I realize what’s happening. I’m in shock. This man is insane. There is no way any of this is true.
“Go,” he says, breaking the trance I’m under.
I take a step out of the tiny house, knowing that I won’t be back inside ever again. This part of my life is over. My mother is gone, and I won’t search for my father. I doubt I even read this stupid letter.
I run out, and I don’t hear him following me.
I head toward my car, planning on driving away before Langston appears. I just want out of here. I can’t handle a dinner with Langston right now.
But Langston is already here, and he’ll stop me. I feel him before I see him.
When I look up, I see the tension on his face, a vein bulging on his
forehead. He’s pissed, but I don’t know why.
“Is it true?” he asks me, stopping me from entering my car.