Novels by ARILLE MOON

I couldn't stay there any longer.Elena's words continued to echo inside my head.You made him happy again.The statement should have comforted me.Instead, it only made everything more complicated.Without saying another word, I turned and walked out of the dining room."Maya."Mr. K's voice followed me.I ignored him.My chest felt tight.My thoughts were a complete mess.The hallway blurred as I walked faster.I needed space.I needed time.Most of all, I needed to understand what I was feeling.The sound of footsteps followed behind me."Maya, wait."I stopped.Not because I wanted to.Because I was tired of running.Slowly, I turned around.Mr. K stood several feet away.His expression was unreadable.But his eyes were filled with something I had never seen before.Fear.For a moment, neither of us spoke.Then I crossed my arms."What?"His jaw tightened."I know you're upset."A bitter laugh escaped my lips."Upset?"The word sounded ridiculous."Is that what you think this is?"

The next morning felt heavier than usual.I barely slept.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Elena's face.My face.Or at least a version of it.The resemblance was impossible to ignore.And today, according to Mr. K, I would finally learn the truth.The thought should have made me feel relieved.Instead, it made me nervous.Very nervous.I arrived at the dining room earlier than usual.For once, Mr. K wasn't there.The empty chair across from me felt strange.The silence felt stranger.I poured myself a cup of coffee and tried to calm my thoughts.It didn't work.A few minutes later, footsteps echoed through the room.Mr. K entered.He looked exhausted.As if he hadn't slept either.For several seconds, neither of us spoke.Then he sat down."I promised you answers."I nodded.My heart immediately sped up.He stared at the untouched coffee in front of him.As if searching for the right words.Finally, he spoke."Five years ago, I was engaged."The statement surprised me.I immediatel

For several seconds, nobody moved.Nobody spoke.The woman standing in the center of the room stared at me with wide eyes.I stared back.It felt like looking into a mirror.Not an exact mirror.But close enough to send chills down my spine.We had the same dark hair.The same height.Even our facial features were strangely similar.My heart pounded."What is this?"My voice came out barely above a whisper.The woman looked away first.Fear flashed across her face.Then sadness.A deep sadness that seemed to have lived inside her for years."Maya..."Mr. K's voice sounded strained.I turned toward him.For the first time since meeting him, he looked completely defeated.Not cold.Not powerful.Just tired."Who is she?" I demanded.Silence.The woman lowered her head.Mr. K closed his eyes briefly.Then he finally answered."Her name is Elena."The woman slowly looked up.Her eyes glistened with tears."Hello, Maya."The greeting felt surreal.I didn't know how to respond.Nothing abou

The maid's words stayed with me for the rest of the day.Some memories should stay buried.No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about them.The west wing.The hidden woman.The tragedy.Every clue seemed connected.Yet none of them gave me a complete answer.By evening, the mansion felt unusually quiet.The servants moved carefully through the halls, speaking in hushed voices.Even dinner passed in silence.Mr. K barely touched his food.His attention remained fixed on the documents beside him.Something was bothering him.I could feel it.Finally, I put down my fork."Are you always this cheerful during dinner?"His eyes lifted."What?""You've said maybe three words all evening.""I've been busy.""That's your excuse for everything."To my surprise, he almost smiled.Almost.Then it disappeared.Just like always.For a brief moment, I considered asking about the west wing again.But experience had already taught me how that conversation would end.With silence.After

Sleep refused to come that night.I lay awake staring at the ceiling of my enormous bedroom.Every time I closed my eyes, I heard the stranger's words again.The woman in the west wing wants to see you.The sentence echoed inside my head.Who was she?Why was she hidden?And why had Mr. K looked so shocked?None of it made sense.Outside, rain continued falling against the windows.The storm seemed endless.Finally, I sat up.There was no point pretending I could sleep.I slipped out of bed and walked toward the window.The mansion grounds were dark.Silent.Almost.Then I saw it.A light.A single light glowing from the far side of the mansion.The west wing.My heartbeat quickened.For several seconds, I simply stared.The light remained on.Someone was there.Someone awake.Someone hidden.A chill ran down my spine.I remembered every warning Mr. K had given me.Stay away from the west wing.Don't ask questions.Don't go there.The more I thought about it, the more suspicious it be

The woman stood motionless near the mansion entrance.Her eyes remained fixed on me.Cold.Sharp.Judging.A strange silence settled over the driveway.Even the servants nearby seemed nervous.No one spoke.No one moved.Then the woman smiled.It was beautiful.And completely fake."So this is your wife?" she asked.Her gaze traveled from my head to my feet.I felt like I was being inspected.Measured.Compared.Mr. K stepped forward.His expression remained unreadable."Leave, Vanessa."The woman—Vanessa—laughed softly."Is that how you greet me after everything?"I looked between them.There was history here.A lot of history.The kind that didn't disappear easily.Vanessa folded her arms."I heard rumors."Mr. K said nothing."So they were true."Her eyes landed on the ring on my finger again."You really got married."For a brief moment, pain crossed her face.Then it vanished.Replaced by anger.I suddenly felt like an outsider standing in the middle of someone else's story.Vane