SUNBURN | JOHN B ROUTLEDGE

024

Gabriella jumped out of the car with Sarah, her eyes widening with awe as she took in the grandeur of the estate. "This is my house," Sarah said, with a touch of pride. "Tannyhill."

Gabriella's reaction was a hushed, "God bless." The mansion before her was a vision of elegance, its white facade gleaming under the late afternoon sun. It resembled the White House in its pristine beauty, with its towering Roman columns and expansive balcony that seemed to stretch endlessly. Gabriella marveled at the opulence of it all, feeling a mix of admiration and nostalgia.

As they passed the columns and Sarah unlocked the grand front door, Gabriella stepped inside, immediately enveloped by the cool, crisp air of the house. The marble floor beneath her feet sparkled in the soft light, and the sweeping spiral staircase in the foyer made her heart skip a beat. The resemblance to her own penthouse in New York was striking, stirring up a swirl of memories from her past life.

"This reminds me so much of my penthouse in New York," Gabriella said, a hint of melancholy in her voice.

Sarah glanced at her, curious. "Penthouse?"

Gabriella shrugged, feeling a strange sense of ease in discussing her past. "Yeah, I lived on the Upper East Side."

Sarah's eyes widened with interest. "Oh, yeah. I remember you telling me when we first met. Who's your step-dad, by the way? My dad has lived here his entire life. Maybe he knows him."

As Gabriella ascended the staircase, she was about to mention her step-dads name, "Dean Evans," when her gaze fell upon a framed photo hanging on the wall. The image captured two young men, each holding up a large fish. The resemblance was unmistakable. Gabriella's heart sank as she recognized Dean's face alongside that of a younger Ward Cameron, someone who was starkly recognisable.

"That's him," Gabriella said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sarah's laughter faltered as she noticed the serious look on Gabriella's face. "Your step-dad is Dean Evans?" she asked, her eyes widening in surprise. "I've watched all of his movies."

Gabriella nodded, feeling a pang of discomfort and confusion. "Yep. I never met my birth father but for some reason, he looks a lot like him." She pointed to the man beside Dean, Ward Cameron. How did she recognise Ward? Did he just have one of those faces? Why would Dean send her to live with another abusive person, instead of here in Tannyhill? There was so many unanswered questions swirling around in her mind, trying to make sense of everything. 

"Oh, thats my dad, Ward Cameron." Sarah said.

All she knew what that she had to find out more. Seeing the sudden shift in Gabriella's demeanor, Sarah reached out and took her hand gently, her touch warm and reassuring. "Come on," she said softly, leading Gabriella up the rest of the staircase and into her room.

Sarah's room was a reflection of her personality, bright and vibrant. As she rummaged through her closet, searching for the perfect bikini for the pool party, Gabriella took in the space around her, feeling a surprising comfort in Sarah's company. The opulence of the room, with its neatly organized wardrobe and carefully curated decor, contrasted with the relaxed and genuine nature of their interaction.

Sarah, still focused on finding the right swimsuit, glanced at Gabriella with a friendly smile. "You didn't know they knew each other, did you?"

Gabriella managed a small smile. "No, but it's okay. What do you know?"

"Just that they were business partners." Sarah said. All the gears in Gabriella's mind began to turn, business partners how? Gabriella had remembered her plane journey to the Outerbanks, researching anything she could find and Ward Cameron is a multimillionaire real estate developer via his company Cameron Development, thanks in part to the Limbrey family funding his first development project.