A mysterious package on Adelaide’s doorstep changes the course of her birthday in ways she never imagined. Inside is a beautiful pair of shoes—and a chilling warning that set the stage for a night of shocking revelations.
I woke up on the morning of my 35th birthday with a mix of excitement and sadness. Birthdays had always been a big deal for me, but this year, something felt different. I reached for my phone, hoping for a message from James.
A young woman scrolling through her phone | Source: Midjourney
Nothing. I sighed, missing his morning texts that usually made me smile. He was on a business trip, and wouldn’t be back until later in the evening for the party. I threw the blanket off, feeling the emptiness of the house without him. Just as I was about to get out of bed, the doorbell rang, jolting me from my thoughts.