Lena sat quietly, humming as her hands worked the wool in her lap, shaping it into delicate stitches. The rhythmic sound of knitting needles clicking together filled the room, a soft, comforting noise against the backdrop of a gentle breeze drifting in from the slightly open window. The distant chirping of birds outside was almost drowned out by the faint rustling of trees.She gazed out of the window as familiar figures came into view, footsteps crunching against the gravel pathway that wound through the garden.“Oh, it’s Mariam,” she muttered softly, her voice barely audible over the natural symphony. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she stood up, only to sit back down again. Her gaze lingered for a moment, following the figures outside with a mix of curiosity and affection.“She’s really taken a liking to Raul, hasn’t she?” Lena chuckled softly to herself. The way Mariam leaned into Raul, their heads close together in conversation, gave away their growing bond. The light

Anderson skimmed through the file, eyes glossing over the list of names and family ties. "Edward Victor... blah blah," he muttered, tossing the file onto the desk. "So, his name’s Edward." He leaned back, a dry chuckle escaping. "Maybe I’m just being paranoid."He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk, the faint patter a reminder of his own growing impatience. The room felt colder than usual, the silence pressing in from all sides. With a sigh, Anderson reached for his pen, scribbling a hefty sum onto a check. "Not my style, but it’ll do for now," he muttered under his breath, tugging at his tie, trying to loosen the suffocating knot. He glanced at the door, ensuring it was tightly shut. Lately, the butler had been hovering, his presence a persistent annoyance. Anderson had too many secrets to keep, and the last thing he needed was someone piecing together the wrong story.As if on cue, the door creaked open, and the butler stepped in, his footsteps too light for Anderson’s

“Fifty per cent well-done, other fifty... booo!” Anderson’s spirit hissed, his form flickering between shadow and solid in front of Jacob’s face.Jacob recoiled, his fists clenched as he backed away, eyes wide with confusion. “Why are you still here?” he asked, his voice edged with frustration.Anderson’s spirit drifted closer, its presence suffocating, the air thick with menace. “Arrogant, aren’t you?” The words dripped with cold malice. “Is she dead?”Jacob tried to steady himself, his breath quickening. “You can’t just turn me into some... perfect killer.”Anderson’s spirit towered over him now, the temperature around Jacob dropping with every word. His voice became a chilling, unnatural whisper. “Kill her or be killed. DIE! KILL EVEL... OR YOU. SHOULD. DIE!” His voice cracked, growing more inhuman, the echoes rattling inside Jacob’s mind like the chains of a nightmare he couldn’t escape.Jacob clutched his head, his thoughts spiralling out of control. “Arrrggh!” he screamed, his v

“So that concludes today’s meeting,” Anderson announced, his voice steady as he called the gathering to a close. The low hum of murmurs filled the room as the board members shuffled their papers, ready to leave.Before anyone could stand, a voice from the back spoke up. “One more thing,” the head of marketing said, leaning forward with a raised brow. “We need to finalize the decision on the website.”The room grew quiet. Anderson, standing at the head of the table, paused for a moment. “The website, yes.”“We’ve been discussing the benefits of a more interactive platform to engage with the public, especially after the recent press coverage,” another board member chimed in. “It could help boost our reputation even further.”Evelyn, who had been sitting in for Uncle Judas, leaned back in her chair with a smug expression. “A website? Do you mean to stroke Anderson’s already inflated ego?”The room chuckled lightly, though there was a hint of tension beneath the surface.“It’s not just ab

Mariam headed to the grocery store, pulling the sleeves of her oversized hoodie down to hide her hands. Her hair was tied back into a messy bun, and she wore no makeup, her face bare and tired. Her worn-out sneakers made soft squeaks as she walked down the aisles, scanning the shelves distractedly.“So, what's left on the list?” she muttered to herself, pulling out her phone to check the shopping app.“Is this it?” A familiar voice startled her from behind. She turned to see Raul holding up a can of beef stew, a grin playing on his lips.“You—what are you doing here?” Mariam asked, her voice tinged with shock, her face paling slightly under the bright supermarket lights.“I should be asking you the same thing,” Raul said with a teasing smile, gesturing around with his free hand. “You look... different.”“I’m shopping. You can see I’m S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G,” she stammered, her words laced with a forced casualness. Her fingers tugged at the edge of her hoodie nervously, wishing she’d at least