Chapter 3

Word spread fast in Oakhaven.

Neighbors Emily had known her whole life suddenly avoided her eyes.

Mrs. Henderson, from next door, finally approached her, her face etched with worry.

"Emily, dear, maybe you should just... let it go."

"Let it go?" Emily was incredulous. "They nearly killed my mother."

"The O' Doyles... they' re powerful. It' s not worth fighting them."

A few days later, a sleek black car pulled up to the small Callahan house.

Mr. Henderson, the O' Doyles' lawyer, got out.

He was older, with a soft voice and eyes that didn' t match his gentle tone.

He offered Emily a seat at her own kitchen table, which felt wrong.

"Miss Callahan," he began, placing a folder on the table. "My clients, the O' Doyles, are very distressed about this unfortunate incident with your mother."

He slid a check across the table.

Five thousand dollars.

"They are prepared to offer this to help with Mrs. Callahan' s medical expenses."

Emily stared at the check. It wouldn' t even cover the first night in the ICU.

"There is, of course, a small document to sign."

He produced a paper. "Just a standard release. It states that the damages to the cafe and your mother' s injuries were the result of an unfortunate accident, and that you hold no one responsible."

An accident.

Emily felt a cold rage build inside her.

"My mother was beaten with baseball bats."

Henderson sighed. "A regrettable turn of events. But this settlement is generous. And it would allow everyone to move on."

"Move on?" Emily stood up. "They commit assault, try to silence us with a pittance, and we' re supposed to call it an accident?"

She pushed the check and the paper back towards him.

"Get out of my house."

Henderson' s smile faded.

"That would be unwise, Miss Callahan. The O' Doyles don' t like to be refused."

He collected his papers. "Think carefully. This offer won' t last forever."

Two days later, a letter arrived from the university.

Emily tore it open, expecting more financial aid forms.

Her blood ran cold.

"We regret to inform you that due to a clerical error in the processing of your application, your scholarship has been revoked."

A clerical error.

Just like that, her future was gone.

Connor O' Doyle' s words echoed in her head.

"My family runs this town."