Preface
It was not the most pleasant thing she had ever done, but it was definitely the most costly. Chantal could not remember ever spending thirty-five million dollars in one day before, but it was money well spent.
She looked out the window of the private jet she sat in and contemplated the past forty-five years of her life. She came from humble beginnings and had forged a life for herself of unimaginable proportions, yet it came at such a price. She was not sure if she would have taken the path she took, had she known the outcome, but on second thought, she selfishly had to admit she probably would have. In some ways, life had been good to her; she had a loving family waiting for her at home on the island and a career people fantasized about, yet life had dealt her several harsh blows. What would her life be today had she never received the letter? Would all those people still be alive, or were their lives pre-destined and out of her control? Could one letter possibly have changed all their destinies? Unfortunately, Chantal would never know because she had only one life to live; she could not erase her mistakes and start over again.
She opened her purse, took out
the letter and read it again for the umpteen time. The words were etched on her
brain, yet it brought tears to her eyes, even today. It was yellowed from
twenty-five years of age and being stored in her box of private papers. She had
taken it from its place and read it several times over the past twenty-five
years, yet she had never shared it with anyone. Her heart was filled with sorrow
today and would be for some time to come, but she
vowed to destroy the letter when she reached home. It was time to break the
curse, she felt, the letter held. It was time to finally move on. She would
touch down at the Halifax airport in about an hour, so Chantal let her mind
relax and recall her life and how it all began on Isle Madame.......