Chapter 406

Where the Old Photo Originated My eyes widened as I looked at Grayson’s phone. The photo showed a boy and girl with distinct features, around ten years old.

I couldn’t stop looking at the little girl’s delicate and beautiful face. She had large eyes, thin lips, and, most notably, a small dimple below her mouth. She had two long pigtails with strawberry–shaped hairpins and wore a light pink dress.

She looked incredibly familiar, and I wondered why she resembled Ava.

The handsome boy beside the girl wore a white shirt and plaid shorts. He had one hand in his pocket and the other resting on a chair. The little girl leaned on the chair with a basketball placed on it.

The boy had striking features and an aloof smile. He appeared less cheerful than the girl but had an air of sophistication. I knew it was a young Atlas, “Is this… Is this a photo of Atlas when he was young?” My heart pounded, and my mind raced.

“Yes, it’s Atlas and the real Stella during childhood,” Grayson confirmed. “Now, look at the next picture.

Look at what’s written on the back of the photo.”

I swiped to the next photo and saw a date and two names, “Atlas and Sweetheart Stella,” written on it.

“Where’d you find this photo?” I asked Grayson shakily.

Grayson answered, “Obtaining this photo wasn’t easy. It was from a former servant to the Pierce family who quit long before the plane crash that took Louis’s, Tammy’s, and Rory’s lives.”

A chill ran down my spine, and my hair stood on end.

Grayson added, “The servant resigned and retired to her hometown due to illness. She returned from Nocturnia to Tarnstead, where she lives a quiet life. Nobody cares about her.

“Tarnstead?” I muttered, repeating the name.

Grayson continued, “When we mentioned the Pierce family, she became emotional. She mentioned taking a book she loved as a keepsake when she returned from Nocturnia. She used to read it to the old lady frequently. At the time, she didn’t realize the photo was inside.”

“This must be fate.” My hands trembled, and my gaze shifted from Grayson’s face to the photo.

Grayson nodded solemnly. “She said the family took the picture during Thanksgiving at the Pierce family’s residence. The woman also said the little girl from the White family was lovely. She got along well with “Although the little girl was nine months older than Atlas, she saw him as an older brother because he was very protective of her.”

“Nine months?” I couldn’t help but react to that piece of information.

“The woman also talked much about Rory and his close relationship with Louis. She said she didn’t know about everything that happened later.”

“So, she didn’t even know Louis and Rory died?” I asked in astonishment.

Grayson nodded, “No, she didn’t. The woman left Nocturnia and never contacted the Pierce family again. When we found her, she was surprised and kept asking us how we found her. Then we asked her for this photo.”

“Who wrote the Is on it?” I asked, looking at the delicate handwriting on the back.

“Stella’s mother. Her maiden name is Lucille Avila.” Grayson replied confidently.

I felt an unexpected pain in my heart. I thought it was a beautiful name. I instinctively asked, “Can you send me the photo?”

“Of course.”

“Chloe, don’t you think the girl in the photo looks familiar?” “Are you suggesting she resembles Annalise?‘ I asked.

Craven seemed to be probing me.