ログインAmber POVFor the first time in weeks, life became almost... normal.Almost.The school was running smoothly. The children had settled into their routines. The adoption paperwork was finalized. The Vincents were strangely quiet.Which meant they were probably planning something.Still, I wasn't going to complain.For once, Jason and I had enough time to focus on something that had been bothering us ever since Professor Vale handed us the map.The hidden treasury.Or whatever was hidden beneath Ember Castle.One evening, after the children had gone to bed and the castle had become quiet, Jason and I spread the map across a table in the library.The old parchment showed passages that weren't included in any modern blueprints.Passages hidden inside walls.Beneath floors.Behind fireplaces.And, for some reason, connected to the kitchen.Naturally.Every mystery in this castle seemed to start in the kitchen.Armed with flashlights, our phones, and far more confidence than common sense, w
Amber POVThe pregnancy reveal somehow created more chaos than the adoption.Which was saying something.One moment everyone was congratulating us, the next the children had questions.Many questions.Far too many questions.The first one came from Alex.Naturally.We were gathered in one of the castle's living rooms when he suddenly looked at Jason and me suspiciously."Wait."The room became quiet.Alex narrowed his eyes."You lied."Jason blinked."What?""You said the baby plan was in two years."Silence.I immediately remembered the conversation.Unfortunately, so did Jason.Alex crossed his arms."You specifically said two years."A pause."You had charts."Jason looked horrified."Why do you remember that?"Alex looked offended."Because I helped make the charts."Mrs. Sun burst out laughing.Grandfather Asher nearly choked on his tea.Rose buried her face in a pillow.Iris looked like she wanted to disappear.Alex pointed accusingly at us."It has not been two years.""No.""I
Amber POVPregnancy was a scam.A complete scam.Nobody had warned me.Not properly.Apparently, creating a human being came with a long list of side effects nobody talked about enough.For example, I could no longer stand garlic.Garlic.One of my favorite ingredients.Now, the mere smell made me gag.The castle's kitchen had become enemy territory.Three times this week, I had walked in confidently only to turn around and run away seconds later.The staff was deeply concerned.The children were confused.And Alice was watching me.Constantly.Everywhere.Like a tiny detective.I should have known that was a problem.Alice POVSomething was wrong with Mom.Very wrong.At first, I thought she was sick.Then I started paying attention.And when I pay attention, I notice things.A lot of things.For example, Mom used to like garlic.I know because she put garlic on almost everything.Then one day she walked into the kitchen, smelled garlic bread, made a weird face, and ran away.Ran awa
Amber POVIt was decided. Officially, legally, and irrevocably, the children would become ours. Not just emotionally, not just in every way that truly mattered, but on paper as well. Alice, Alex, Rose, and Iris would become our children in every sense of the word.The reaction was not what I expected.I thought there would be tears. Maybe a heartfelt speech. Instead, Jason looked personally offended."No one is excited about me," he complained while the children practically hung off my arms after hearing about the adoption plans.The entire table stared at him."You already adopted two of them," I pointed out."Exactly!" Jason replied. "And yet they're acting like this is all your doing."The adults burst out laughing. Even I couldn't hold it in. Before Jason could continue defending himself, Rose slid into the chair beside him and took his hand."Don't worry," she said seriously. "I'll keep you entertained."That only made everyone laugh harder.The following weeks passed in a whirlw
Amber POVThe crash above us was followed by complete silence.The kind of silence that only existed when children were trying very hard not to be discovered.I exchanged a look with Jason.Jason exchanged a look with Mrs. Sun.Mrs. Sun exchanged a look with Grandfather.Nobody said anything.We all silently agreed to pretend nothing had happened.The children wanted to spy?Fine.We would let them.For now.I took a sip of water.Jason resumed eating dessert.Grandfather cleared his throat."Well."A pause."I don't think your uncle will put up much of a fight if you want to adopt Rose."My eyebrows rose.Grandfather looked entirely unimpressed."After all."Another pause."He hasn't exactly been Father of the Year."Mrs. Sun snorted.Mr. Sun nodded.Grandfather continued."The bastard."No one disagreed.Not even me.Rose deserved better.She always had.Grandfather leaned back in his chair."The more complicated issue is Iris."The mood shifted immediately.Because we all knew he w
Amber POVThe night of the family dinner arrived far too quickly.Honestly, I should have known it would become a disaster.Every family dinner somehow did.Lunch had been surprisingly pleasant.The children had spent most of it talking about their first day of school.Alice had apparently made six new friends.Alex had somehow ended up helping one of the computer teachers.Rose had joined three clubs.And Iris had already corrected a history textbook.The teacher had apparently thanked her.I wasn't entirely sure if that was impressive or concerning.The mood changed the moment Alice realized the children were not invited to dinner."Excuse me?"She placed her little hands on her hips."Not invited?"Mrs. Sun looked completely unrepentant."No."Alice gasped.Theatrically."You can't do that.""We just did."Alice looked betrayed.Alex looked equally offended."We live here."Mr. Sun nodded."You do.""Then how are we not invited?"No one had an answer for that.Rose looked genuinely
It did not take long for Victoria to fabricate a lie, but the explosion didn’t come from the board.It came from a live broadcast.Victoria stood behind a polished podium, composed as ever. Cameras flashed. Reporters leaned forward.“I did not intend to involve myself publicly,” she began, voice s
They called her in. No delay. No warning. The door opened ten minutes later. Amelie walked in looking immaculate — refreshed, polished, perfectly styled. Not a trace of nerves in her posture. At least not until her eyes landed on me. For a fraction of a second, the color drained from her face
We didn’t warn them. We simply arrived. Jason walked at my side. The children stayed close, Marcus just behind us — calm, immovable, inevitable. The moment we entered the company lobby, the air shifted. Whispers followed us. Phones were lowered. Eyes widened. “Call the board,” I instructed t
We drifted into lighter topics after that — Molly’s upcoming clothing line debut, fabric choices, venue rumors, guest lists. It felt almost normal. Almost. Then another call came through. Grandfather. “Molly, I’m sorry — I have to take this. I’ll call you back.” Her teasing hum was the la







