Chapter 389

Chapter 389:

Inside, the scent of coffee deepened, mingling with the faint notes of polished wood and aged books. A middle-aged man sat at a sleek coffee table, his movements precise as he carefully poured coffee from a silver pot.

He was dressed in a simple gray suit, his hair neatly combed back, and his expression carried a quiet warmth. At the sight of her, he set the coffee pot down and rose to his feet with an easy grace.

“It’s nice to meet you in person, Miss Hudson. I’m Matthew Duncan.”

Sadie dipped her head slightly in greeting, her voice poised and polite. “Nice to meet you as well, Mr. Duncan.”

Matthew gestured toward the chair opposite him. “Please, have a seat.” Without hesitation, Sadie settled into the chair.

Matthew wasted no time. “Miss Hudson, you want to know the origins of this string of beads?”

Sadie nodded and handed over the string of beads. “Yes. This piece… it’s more than just jewelry to me.”

Matthew turned it over in his hand, studying the delicate carvings with quiet reverence. After a pause, he spoke slowly. “I acquired it three years ago… from a woman.”

“That woman… do you still have any way of reaching her? A phone number? An address?” Sadie leaned forward instinctively, her grip tightening on the leather bag in her lap.

Matthew sighed. “That woman was a cautious one—reserved, deliberate.” He reached into a drawer, rifling through its contents before retrieving a single, yellowed piece of paper. “This is all I have.” He slid the fragile slip across the table. “Three years is a long time. I can’t say for sure if the number is still active.”

Sadie clutched the paper, her grip tightening as if it might disappear. This—this lone set of digits—was the key to finding her mother.

Her voice was thick with emotion as she whispered, “Thank you, Mr. Duncan.”

Matthew offered her a kind smile. “I hope this number leads you to the answers you’re looking for.”

Sadie rose to her feet, bowing her head slightly in gratitude before turning toward the door.

Outside, the air felt different now—heavier with possibility. She walked to her car, slid into the driver’s seat, and closed the door behind her with a soft click. For a long moment, she simply stared at the numbers in her hand. A thin sheen of sweat dampened her palm. She took a deep, trembling breath as she pressed the start button, the engine humming to life.

Her hands clutched the steering wheel, but her mind was elsewhere—lost in a whirlwind of memories. Her mother’s voice. Her mother’s laughter.

The drive felt endless. Finally, she pulled over, the car rolling to a slow stop at the roadside. For a moment, she just sat there, gripping the piece of paper as though it held the answers to her past.

A single call. That was all it took to find out if this was a real lead—or another dead end.

Sadie’s fingers trembled as she pressed the dial button and lifted the phone to her ear.

Beep… Beep… Beep…

Each ring stretched into eternity, her breath catching in her throat. The anticipation was suffocating.

“Hello, you’ve reached the receiver’s voice mailbox. Please leave a message or try again later…”

The flat, automated voice hit Sadie like a punch to the gut. Her heart plummeted, the glimmer of hope she had clung to dimming like a candle in the wind.

No answer.

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