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Chapter 40(A Fall and Threat)The aftermath of the apology left a lingering quiet in the mansion that felt unlike the usual cold silence of Warren Mansion. Mia had spent the rest of the morning unusually composed, her typical spark replaced by a contemplative, almost hesitant manner. Pearl kept her word—the tablet was gone, and the afternoon was dedicated to extra reading.But as the clock struck noon, the front doors of the mansion swung open, and Pearl’s new plan arrived: Ella.Ella looked like a fish out of water. She clutched her small handbag as if it were a lifesaver, her eyes flickering between the towering vaulted ceilings and the priceless artwork adorning the walls. Pearl greeted her at the entrance with a small, encouraging smile.“You made it,” Pearl whispered, giving her friend a quick squeeze.“Pearl, this place is bigger than my entire neighbourhood,” Ella hissed back, her eyes wide. “Are you sure about this? If I break a vase here, I’ll be in debt until the year 3000.
Chapter 39(Lessons in Dignity)The Tuesday morning sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Warren mansion, casting long, sharp shadows across the polished marble floors. It was a cold, clinical light that did little to warm the quiet tension that often hung in the air of such a grand house. For Pearl, Tuesday was usually a day of routine—overseeing Mia’s breakfast and ensuring the day’s schedule was set. But as she approached the east wing, the usual morning calm was shattered by the sharp, high-pitched tone of a voice that shouldn’t have sounded so entitled.“I said move it! You’re getting dust on my favourite doll, and if you break it, my dad will sack you before you can even walk out the door!”Pearl stopped in her tracks, her brow furrowing. She recognised that voice, but the venom in it was new. She stepped toward Mia’s bedroom door, which stood slightly ajar.Inside, a middle-aged woman in a grey cleaning uniform was trembling, her hands clutching a microfiber
Chapter 38(The Terms of Admission)The moonlight through the tall windows of Warren Mansion always felt colder than the sun. It silvered the marble floors and turned the meticulously pruned gardens into a landscape of grey and black. Pearl stood on the balcony of her room, the cool night air tugging at the edges of her silk robe.Her phone felt heavy in her hand. The glow of the screen was a sharp, artificial blue in the darkness. She had won — or at least, she had secured a narrow, precarious opening — but the victory didn’t feel light. It felt like a debt she had just signed in someone else’s name.She dialled Ella’s number. It rang four times before a cautious, sleepy voice answered.“Pearl? Is everything okay? It’s late.”“I spoke to him,” Pearl said. She didn’t lead with small talk. In the silence of the estate, only the essential survived.There was a sudden rustle of bedding on the other end, the sound of Ella sitting up. “Already? I thought you said you’d think about how to a
Chapter 37(The Weight of an Invitation)The drive back to the Warren Estate always felt like a slow descent into a different atmosphere. By the time the wrought-iron gates swung open to admit the car, the noise of the city—the shouting vendors, the hum of overcrowded buses, and the heat of Ella’s small apartment—felt like a dream Pearl had woken from too quickly.She checked her watch. 5:45 PM. She was back before dinner, just as promised.The lobby was cool, the air-conditioning filtering out the humidity of the afternoon. As Pearl stepped inside, she caught her reflection in the gilded mirror near the entrance. She looked the same, but she felt the invisible layer of dust from the stairwell still clinging to her skin.“Pearl!”Mia’s voice preceded her as she hurried down the hallway, her footsteps muffled by the thick rugs. She wasn’t running—Ace didn’t encourage running in the house—but she was moving with purposeful speed that signalled relief.“You’re back,” Mia said, stopping a
Chapter 36(The Distance Between Worlds)Saturday mornings inside the Warren estate followed a rhythm that was quieter than the rest of the week, but no less deliberate. The house never truly slept, yet the sharp urgency that defined the weekdays softened into something steadier, almost reflective. Even the polished floors and high ceilings seemed to understand that the household's pace could loosen slightly without losing its structural integrity.Pearl finished fastening the last button at the back of Mia’s dress and stepped away to inspect her work. The pale blue fabric sat neatly against Mia’s shoulders, and the ribbon Pearl had tied at the waist provided a careful, thoughtful finish that made the young girl look older than her years.“Turn around,” Pearl said gently.Mia obeyed with exaggerated seriousness, completing a slow circle as though presenting herself for a formal inspection. “Better?” she asked.Pearl adjusted the collar, which had folded slightly during the turn, and s
Chapter 35(The Puddle)The mansion was unnervingly still, deathly quiet.The grand clock in the hallway ticked with a heavy, rhythmic thud that seemed to echo Pearl’s heartbeat. She stood in the centre of the kitchen, staring at the darkening puddle slowly spreading across the designer tiles beneath her shoes. She had managed to peel off the soaked hoodie, but her jeans were a lost cause—heavy, cold, and clinging to her legs like a second, very uncomfortable skin.She heard the soft thud-thud of bare feet on the stairs. Ace walked into the kitchen a moment later. He had ditched the blazer and tie, and his white dress shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked less like the untouchable CEO of AW Groups and more like a man who’d just spent twenty minutes wrestling a sticky seven-year-old into pyjamas.He stopped near the island, leaning his weight against the marble counter as he watched her. For a long moment, he didn’t speak. His gaze followed







