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
Victor threw a dart, watching it thud into the board with precision. The dull thump echoed in the dimly lit room, mingling with the distant hum of traffic from the street below. He didn’t look at Raul, but the question in his voice hung heavy in the air.“What do you think, Raul? Could it be a staff member?” His tone was sharp, testing the waters like someone ready to strike at any hint of confirmation.Raul shifted slightly, the leather of the armchair creaking under his weight. He stared at the dartboard, his fingers tapping softly against his knee as if considering the options. “That, I do not know,” he replied, his voice low but thoughtful.Victor leaned back, the chair groaning as his fingers drummed rhythmically on the armrest. The soft click of each tap punctuated the growing tension in the room. “And that’s the estate Anderson’s holed up in?” His voice was colder now, carrying an edge.“No doubt in it,” Raul said, crossing his arms. The fireplace crackled faintly in the backgr
The room felt suffocating as Anderson’s spirit chuckled, a cold, hollow sound that filled the air like smoke. "Oh, look who’s here again," its voice slithered through the silence, dripping with venom.Jacob’s spirit tensed, a deep unease crawling up his spine. "You?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief, barely concealing his dread."I had such high hopes for you," Anderson sneered, its ghostly form looming closer, twisting the shadows in the void between them.Jacob’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean by that?" His voice cracked slightly, his unease growing."Funny thing," Anderson mused, circling him like a predator, its presence oppressive, the air thickening with malice. "When the shaman warned her... I knew. I could’ve warned you, too, but why bother? I stopped myself." Anderson’s spirit laughed, the sound cold and unnatural, bouncing off the walls of the endless, dark expanse.Jacob’s chest tightened. "Why would you do that?" he demanded, his voice trembling with frustration
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 walked briskly down the hallway, his footsteps echoing off the cold, polished floors. The sound bounced back at him, amplifying the heavy silence of the mansion. His chest tightened with every step, his mind racing as the butler's lingering expression gnawed at him. The thought of someone so close harbouring doubts—or worse, secrets—made his blood boil.He reached his study and collapsed into the armchair, its leather creaking beneath his weight. Anderson pulled out his phone, his hands trembling. He scrolled through his contacts, his thumb pausing over the name he needed.The line rang twice before a cold, professional voice answered, “Yes, sir?”"I want a full background check on the butler," Anderson said, his voice clipped and direct. "Every detail. Leave nothing out."There was a brief pause on the other end, the agent clearly surprised by the sudden request. "Of course, sir. We’ll begin the investigation immediately. Is there anything specific you’d like us to focus on?