Anderson sat up in bed, staring blankly into the shadows that stretched across the room. The Blackwell Estate, usually a sanctuary, felt like a suffocating cage tonight. No matter how he tried, sleep evaded him. His mind was heavy with thoughts—his mother's past, His other mother's death, Victor's endless schemes, and the newfound weight of his identity as Anderson Blackwell. He sighed, running his hand through his hair, and decided to take a walk, hoping the cold halls of the estate would clear his head. The estate was eerily quiet at this hour. The chandeliers hung like ghosts above his head, casting long, pale shadows on the walls. He wandered aimlessly, his footsteps barely making a sound against the marble floors. Somehow, he ended up in the library, the one place that always drew him in when he felt lost. As he walked past the towering shelves, something caught his eye—an old, ornate bookshelf that seemed slightly out of place. He hesitated for a moment, then reached out and
Three nights before Jacob Montgomery's death, a spirit roamed the earth in silence. Andrew—once known as a simple café boy—had died. His death had come without warning, but what followed was far more chilling. After his passing, his spirit lingered, restless, and wandering. He drifted aimlessly through cities and fields, unaware of the time that had passed. When the fateful moment came for his soul to return to his body after a week, his body was gone. Panic surged through him as he searched in vain. He couldn't find it. His body, his very own vessel, had vanished. There was no peace in this limbo, only a strange pull toward something he couldn’t understand. The pull eventually led him to a mansion. Something about this place felt familiar, more like Déjà vu. He couldn't place the exact connection, but the sensation gnawed at him. Was it the architecture? The smell of old wood? He drifted further, drawn by an invisible force until he found himself attached to a specific room. It wa
43 hours had passed, and an eerie silence enveloped Anderson’s hideout. Shadows filled the room, with only faint moonlight breaking through the cracks in the old walls. Two spirits hovered above a single body lying on the floor. The atmosphere was thick with unspeakable tension. One spirit tormented the other, while the other sulked in guilt.Anderson’s spirit circled around Jacob’s fading ghost, grinning maliciously. He seemed to feed off Jacob’s misery, his voice dripping with cruelty as he sneered, “You’re no different from the man who killed you, are you? A thief.”Jacob’s spirit recoiled, his pale form flickering slightly. The accusation stung, but it wasn’t the first time Anderson had spat those words at him. The guilt weighed heavily on him, but he couldn’t find the strength to speak. Not yet.Anderson's spirit floated closer, his cold, lifeless eyes locking onto Jacob’s. “What makes you think you’re better than Victor, huh? You framed someone else for a death that wasn’t even
Jacob’s spirit floated uneasily, watching Anderson’s malicious grin with growing apprehension. The tension between them was palpable, and the eerie silence of the hideout only amplified the pressure. A chilling laugh escaped Anderson's lips, mocking the unresolved silence.“What’s so funny?” Jacob’s spirit demanded, his ethereal voice echoing with frustration.Anderson’s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. “You’re asking why? Why do I hate her so much? Why do I want Aunt Evelyn dead?”Jacob’s spectral form narrowed his eyes. “You haven’t told me anything. But I know this hatred you carry runs deep. What’s your endgame?”Anderson circled him, his form flickering ominously with each step. “Oh, Jacob, the clock’s ticking. You’ve got hours left, and you’re still here, questioning me. It’s amusing. Time is a luxury you no longer possess.”Jacob’s patience thinned. “You’re stalling, Anderson. So, why don’t you get to the point already? You’ve been haunting me, tormenting
Victor sat quietly in the dimly lit room of the Montgomery estate, the heavy silence occasionally interrupted by the rhythmic tapping of his fingers against the armrest of his leather chair. His face remained stoic, a mask of cold composure, but beneath the surface, a storm was brewing. The weight of recent events pressed down on him, though his calculating edge never wavered.A soft knock echoed from the door, breaking the tension, before Raul, his trusted confidant, stepped inside with an air of unease. Victor’s gaze shifted, cold and curious."I’ve traced Edward, Victor," Raul began, his voice low. "He’s from a farm in California. As instructed, I handed over the letter a relative of his."Victor’s lips curled into a faint, approving smile. "And did you put it where I specified?"Raul nodded. "Yes, sir. Exactly where you asked."Victor leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering. "And the man I killed?"Raul’s face hardened. "The man is no longer recognizable. I made sure of it."A
Mariam beamed, practically bouncing with excitement. "Oh my God, this is huge! Congratulations to you and Jacob! Girl, he’s going to be a dad!""Mariam!" Lena groaned louder, her frustration palpable. "Lower your voice. Please!"Mariam covered her mouth, but her eyes still sparkled with excitement. "Sorry, sorry! But this is incredible, Lena! I’m just so happy for you."Before Lena could respond, the door creaked. Her heart skipped a beat. "Who’s there?" she asked, her voice trembling.No answer.Mariam glanced at her, frowning. "What's up with you? It’s probably nothing." She waved a hand dismissively, giggling. "You’re being paranoid."Lena forced a smile, trying to shake off the eerie feeling. "Yeah, I guess."Mariam changed the topic, launching into more cheerful chatter as if nothing had happened, but Lena couldn’t focus. Her mind was swirling with everything she hadn’t told Mariam yet.Later that evening, Raul arrived. He brought with him two bags, presenting them with a wide
"Amelia, wait!" Edward's voice broke through the quiet evening air. His footsteps quickened as he closed the gap between them, his chest tightening with every step.Amelia stopped, her back stiff, her hand trembling as she gripped the side of the car door. Her shoulders sagged with the weight of what she was about to do. "I love you, Edward," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she turned halfway, "but I’m sorry. This... this wasn’t meant to be."Edward’s breath hitched as he reached out, grabbing her arm lightly. "Why can’t you stand up to him? He’s forcing you into this marriage!" His voice cracked with desperation. "You don’t love Montgomery, you have said it yourself. Why are you letting him control your life?""You know my father too well, Edward." Amelia’s voice wavered as she pulled her hand away, though her body seemed to yearn for the warmth of his touch. "We were never meant to be. My father... he always has the final say." She swallowed, fighting the sob threatening
The grand ballroom buzzed with excitement as the towering birthday cake was wheeled out, its intricate tiers decorated with delicate swirls and glimmering details. Gasps of admiration rippled through the crowd."Oh my God, look at it!""It's massive!""The colour is perfect!"“Oh! Isn't it just beautiful?”Anderson moved swiftly through the sea of masked faces, his steps deliberate. He manoeuvred through the crowd like a shadow, blending in effortlessly. As he neared the cake, his hand slipped unnoticed toward the middle tier, discreetly dropping something onto the side."Yes," he whispered to himself, satisfaction lacing his tone. But no sooner had he done the deed than a sudden wave of dizziness hit him. His vision blurred, and his legs felt weak."What…what’s happening?" he muttered, barely audible. His heart raced as he staggered, gripping the back of a chair for support. ‘Not now,’ he thought desperately. ‘Please, not now.’"And now, it’s time for the birthday girl to cut h