"A few months later, suddenly her health declined." Laura paused. "She believed someone from the court had discovered where she was."
Alina went still. The letter trembled in her hands as she read the last line over and over again. Then, slowly, she looked up at Laura.
"Who found her, Laura?" she asked.
"I don't know," Laura replied, shaking her head.
Alina stared at her for a few seconds. Then laughed in disbelief.
"No," she said. "No… my mother was sick. That's it. People get sick all the time."
But even she didn't sound convinced by her own words.
"I remember how she kept coughing all the time near the end," she continued. "Eventually, she became so weak that she couldn't leave bed some days."
Austin watched her falling apart with each word, but he didn't say anything. It wasn't the time.
"I used to bring her water," her voice turned to whisper now. "I remember helping her walk sometimes."
Laura felt guilty and lowered her gaze, unable to look into her eyes.
"Alina…"
