Sebastian watched Aria with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. Standing in the quaint historical society with the morning sun filtering through the windows, she felt caught between her instinct to keep the mystery of Evelyn and Samuel to herself and the odd urge to confide in him.

“What kind of research?” he pressed, his voice even but curious.

Aria hesitated, weighing her options. She’d only known Sebastian for a few days, yet something about his presence was… steadying.

“Family history,” she admitted, holding up the folder. “I found some old letters in my attic, and they led me here. My grandmother might’ve been connected to someone named Samuel Hale.”

Sebastian’s brows lifted. “The same Samuel Hale who disappeared decades ago?”

“You’ve heard of him?”

“Azure Bay has its fair share of ghost stories,” Sebastian said with a faint smirk. “And his is one of the most famous. People say he vanished on purpose, running away from… something. Or someone.”

“Not helpful,” Aria muttered.

“Or,” he continued, “he was silenced by someone who didn’t want him to be found. Depends on which version you believe.”

Aria’s grip on the folder tightened. “And which do you believe?”

“I don’t believe in ghost stories,” he said simply.

Mrs Cartwright, who had been listening quietly, cleared her throat. “Not all stories about Samuel are baseless, you know,” she interjected. “But there’s something most people overlook—his disappearance wasn’t the end. People claimed to have seen him in neighboring towns for years after he left Azure Bay. Some even say he had a different name.”

Aria blinked. “What name?”

“That, my dear, is the mystery,” Mrs. Cartwright replied with a knowing smile.

Back at her shop, Aria spread the folder and letters across her kitchen table, trying to connect the dots. Evelyn’s last dated letter spoke of waiting at the harbor, hoping Samuel would come to her. The article confirmed he vanished that same summer. But why?

“Why didn’t you meet her, Samuel?” Aria murmured.

The faint chime of the front door pulled her from her thoughts. She stood and peered out to see Sebastian lingering near the shop’s shelves.

“Do you make a habit of dropping by unannounced?” she asked, stepping into the room.

“Only when I’m curious,” he said, turning to face her. “You seemed determined earlier. I figured I’d see if you needed help.”

“I work better alone,” she replied, though her tone lacked conviction.

Sebastian leaned against the counter, folding his arms. “Maybe. But mysteries have a way of getting tangled. Two heads might untangle faster than one.”

Aria hesitated. Part of her wanted to send him away, but another part—one she wasn’t ready to examine too closely—welcomed the thought of his company.

She sighed. “Fine. But no brooding in silence. If you’re here, you’re working.”

“Deal,” he said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

As the day stretched on, Aria and Sebastian pieced together what little information they had. Evelyn’s letters painted a picture of a passionate love, but they also hinted at danger.

"My dearest S,
You once told me that the world was against us. I didn’t understand then, but I do now. I see it in the way people look at me, whispering behind my back. It’s as though they know something I don’t. Please, come to me soon. I can’t bear this alone."

“Do you think Evelyn and Samuel were forbidden to be together?” Sebastian asked, setting the letter down.

“It’s possible,” Aria said. “Evelyn’s family was well-off, and Samuel might not have been. Or maybe it was something more scandalous.”

“Like?”

“Like a family feud. Or maybe… maybe Samuel’s disappearance wasn’t voluntary.”

Sebastian frowned. “You think someone forced him to leave?”

Aria nodded slowly. “Or worse.”

The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging between them.

Sebastian broke the quiet. “What about the harbor? Evelyn’s letter mentioned waiting there. Maybe there’s something there—something she left behind.”

The suggestion sent a thrill through Aria. “It’s worth a look.”

That evening, the harbor was bathed in golden light as the sun dipped below the horizon. Aria and Sebastian walked along the weathered docks, scanning the area for anything that might be out of place.

“What exactly are we looking for?” Sebastian asked.

“Anything that feels… significant,” Aria replied, her eyes darting to the old storage sheds lining the shore.

One shed caught her attention. It was older than the others, its wooden door slightly ajar.

“Over there,” she said, pointing.

They approached cautiously, the floorboards creaking under their weight. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of salt and aged timber. Aria’s flashlight beam landed on an old chest tucked in the corner.

Sebastian stepped forward, his expression unreadable. “Do you think…?”

“Only one way to find out.”

Together, they pried the chest open. Inside, they found a bundle of papers, a silver locket, and an envelope sealed with wax.

Aria’s breath hitched. The wax bore the initials S.H.

Sebastian handed her the envelope, his fingers brushing hers. “Looks like Samuel left more behind than just a mystery.”

Aria stared at the envelope, her heart pounding. Slowly, she broke the seal and unfolded the letter inside.

"To whomever finds this,
If you’ve come this far, you’re searching for answers. I owe them to you, but I ask for your patience. My story is not an easy one to tell. If you wish to know the truth, you must follow where this leads…"

The letter ended with coordinates.

Sebastian glanced at her, his gray eyes dark with intrigue. “Looks like the mystery just got a lot bigger.”