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?
“Jacob, what the hell are you doing here?” Victor’s voice cut through the room like a knife, sharp and commanding, filled with detest.Jacob froze in the doorway, drenched from the rain outside, his heart sinking at the sight of his older brother embracing Lena in her apartment. Victor’s hand was wrapped possessively around Lena’s waist, his fingers grazing the curve of her hip.“I could ask you the same thing, Victor,” Jacob replied, trying to keep his voice steady, though the knot in his stomach tightened every passing second he saw them both in that questionable position.Lena stood by the couch, her arms crossed and her expression cold, her eyes flicking over Jacob filled with disdain. “Jacob, why the hell are you even here?”“What’s going on?” Jacob demanded, stepping further into the room, ignoring the water dripping from his clothes onto the floor. “Victor, why are you here?”Victor chuckled, a cold, mocking sound that sent a chill down Jacob’s spine. He leaned in closer to Len
The rain drummed softly against the windows of Lena's apartment, its steady rhythm a backdrop to the tension that filled the room. Lena stood by the window, her arms loosely wrapped around herself, staring out into the dark, rain-soaked streets below. The image of Jacob stumbling away, his heart shattered, flickered in her mind, but it elicited no sympathy—only a cold satisfaction.“He’ll survive, won’t he?” Lena remarked offhandedly, her voice carrying an edge of indifference as she spoke. She didn’t even bother to turn around.Victor, lounging on the couch with a self-satisfied grin, let out a low chuckle. “He’s like a cockroach—annoying, but hard to kill. It’s a pity he’s too stupid to realize he’s not wanted.”Lena smirked, finally turning to face Victor. “Jacob always did have a way of clinging to things that were never his to begin with.”Victor’s smile widened, the amusement in his eyes growing. “Pathetic, isn’t it? thinking he could keep up with us. The poor idiot actually
Jacob stared at his trembling hands, the sensation still coursing through his veins like electricity. It was as if something deep within him had awakened, responding to the storm raging both outside and within.“What’s happening to me?” he whispered, eyes wide with fear and confusion.The wind howled louder, the rain now a blinding sheet. Jacob’s grip on the railing tightened as the strange sensation grew stronger, pulsing through him in waves. His heart pounded in his chest, and his breath came in short, ragged gasps.Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminated the sky, followed by a deafening crack of thunder. In that split second, Jacob felt a surge of energy unlike anything he had ever experienced. It was as if the storm itself was alive, feeding into him, filling him with a power he couldn’t comprehend.“No… this isn’t real… I’m just… I’m just imagining things,” Jacob muttered, shaking his head as if to clear it. But the sensation wouldn’t go away. If anything, it intensified, mak