The thing is, though I might deserve this, my children don’t. Was my card marked from the day you died, Callum? I should’ve done more to help you. I should’ve shouted longer and louder. I should’ve done something, anything, to save your life. Except lose Callie Rose. I couldn’t do that. Did you understand and forgive me for that, Callum, or did you die hating me? I know what you wrote in your second letter, that you loved me, that you would always love me, but I can’t help but wonder about your thoughts in those final moments before death. I would understand if you blamed me, hated me, but I couldn’t sacrifice our daughter to keep you alive, I just couldn’t. She is the best of both of us, our hope for the future. I loved you so much, so how could I extinguish a part of you, any part of you? I wasn’t strong enough to do that. Callum, she’s so beautiful and smart. She’s a fighter. You’d be so proud of her. Maybe you already are? My children are my world. I can’t imagine my life without either of them in it.

But I will go to my grave wondering if I could’ve saved you.

D’you know what my epitaph will be?

HERE LIES PERSEPHONE MIRA HADLEY.

SHE NEVER DID ENOUGH.

That’s so telling, isn’t it? I think of myself as Sephy Hadley, not Sephy Ealing. Inside, I’m still the young woman who watched her lover hang because of her. Well, I swear no one else is going to suffer because of me.

Callum, my children are in trouble. That weasel Tobias Durbridge is behind it, of course. I despise that man. If it weren’t for him, our daughter would never have been shot. I’ve tried, but I just can’t bring myself to forgive him for that. I held my tongue because Callie obviously felt more for him than he was worth. If ever there were a time-sink, useless construction project, it’s that hollow excuse for a man. When it looked like their friendship had ended, that was one of the happiest days of my life. From the time he was knee-high, Tobey has been nothing but a giant pain in my backside. Always encouraging Callie to get up to all sorts. When they were kids, I could guarantee that, if Callie got into trouble, somewhere, somehow, Tobey would be behind it – lurking in the shadows and letting my daughter clean up his mess. Only this time the world of hurt we’re in is on a whole new boss level.

God only knows what state Troy and Liberty are in now.