Chapter 154

The waiter returned with a bottle of fine wine, pouring them each a glass.

As they toasted to the evening, the warmth between them grew, and the world outside the restaurant seemed to fade away.

***

The mysterious mansion loomed at the edge of the dense forest, its stone walls weathered by time and nature.

The grand structure exuded an eerie silence, the only sounds being the rustling leaves and occasional hoots of distant owls.

Its most distinctive feature was the gigantic front door, intricately carved with the symbol of a tree.

The tree’s branches stretched outwards, almost as if it were alive, its roots deeply embedded in the heavy wooden panels.

Inside, the air was thick with an aura of secrecy. The mansion's study, a room filled with old books and antique furniture, was dimly lit by a single flickering candle.

The faint light barely penetrated the corners of the room, casting long shadows that seemed to dance and twist.

The heavy door of the study creaked open, and a man dr