er arms crossed in a posture that radiated control and authority. The moonli

body tense, protective. "Oli

he same question, Daniel. Wandering the estate grounds at thi

ainst her palm, a reminder of the mystery they had just unraveled with the strange man from the s

r," Daniel said, his voice st

between the two of them. "Getting some air?

ia's suspicion prickling the air between them, and for a moment, she was su

ve been thinking. After everything that's happened with your father... it's become clea

ilence stretched thin, and Elena could sense the tension b

ly, her voice breaking through the tension.

ly. "Perhaps," she said slowly, her tone laced with suspicion. "But just so y

e house, her footsteps echoing across the grounds. Elena let out a breath

close," sh

"Too close. She knows somethin

y pressing harder against her. "We

ing faintly with the light from inside. "If what that man said

ate was full of eyes and ears, and with Olivia lurkin

hadows as they made their way to the west wing. The mansion loomed above them, a

es were on edge, every creak of the floorboards making her heart race. The portraits of lon

d into. The atmosphere here felt different, older, as if the very air was thick wi

aniel whispered, scanning the dimly l

a handful of times in her life. Then, there it was-an imposing portrait of a w

said, her voice ba

ing slightly as she approached the portrait. For a moment, she hesitat

asked quietly. "What if t

d on her shoulder. "Then we ke

f the frame. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a soft click, the p

ty of the moment settling between

The air inside was cool and damp, the walls lined with stone. It felt as though the

to it, Elena's anxiety grew. What would they find at the end?

eavy wooden door. It was old, its surface rough an

Daniel said,

aking slightly as she inserted it into the lock. For a moment, t

ickering shadows across the stone walls. But what caught Elena's attention wa

e with disbelief. "This is... th

ng across the room. "He must have hidde

d papers. They were old, yellowed with age, but as she looked closer,

r heart pounding in her chest.

he estate was pinned to the wall. "He was tracking something," he

den sound from the passageway behind them-a

cold. Someone

her voice barely audib