Some Rooms In This Mansion Are Off-limits

Chapter 6

Isabella

"Can we talk?"

My mother's voice sounded unusually gentle.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at her.

For nineteen years, Catherine Sullivan had been the one person I trusted without questioning. She had raised me alone, worked tirelessly to give me a comfortable life, and never allowed me to feel like I was missing anything.

But now, I wasn't sure I knew her anymore.

"Sure, Mom."

She entered and closed the door behind her.

"How are you feeling?"

I almost laughed.

How was I supposed to feel?

I had discovered that werewolves existed, that my biological father might still be alive, and that some dangerous creatures wanted to capture me.

Not exactly an ordinary Tuesday.

"I'm fine."

She sat beside me.

"Isabella, I know this is difficult."

"Then tell me the truth."

Her expression changed.

"Sweetheart—"

"No, Mom. I'm tired of everyone calling me sweetheart and telling me everything will be fine. I want answers."

She lowered her eyes.

I unlocked my phone and showed her the messages.

Her face lost its color.

"Where did you get these?"

"Someone sent them to me."

She read the messages again, her fingers trembling.

"Lucian isn't dead?"

I nodded.

"Apparently, you know something about that."

She looked away.

"Mom?"

She took a deep breath.

"Your father disappeared shortly after you were born. I searched for him, Isabella. I waited for him. But he never returned."

"Why did you tell me he died?"

"Because I wanted you to have a normal childhood."

I pulled my phone away.

"And now?"

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Now I don't know how to protect you."

That answer hurt more than I expected.

"Did you know he was a werewolf?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

"Did you know I could become one?"

"No. I never imagined you would inherit his abilities."

I stared at her.

"Then why did you hide everything?"

She reached for my hand, but I moved away.

"Because your father made me promise never to tell anyone about you."

I frowned.

"Why?"

She looked toward the door before whispering.

"Because the night you were born, someone tried to take you."

My stomach tightened.

"What?"

"Your father fought them. He told me that if anyone discovered you were alive, they would come looking for you again."

I swallowed.

"Who tried to take me?"

She shook her head.

"I don't know."

I stood up and walked toward the window.

Outside, the garden looked peaceful.

But I knew better now.

There was nothing peaceful about this family.

"Mom, I need to know everything."

She nodded.

"I promise I'll tell you."

Before I could respond, someone knocked.

"Isabella?"

Adrian.

I closed my eyes.

"What now?"

My mother stood.

"I'll leave you two."

She kissed my forehead before walking out.

Adrian entered a few seconds later.

"Interrupting something?"

"Yes."

He grinned.

"Wonderful. I'm talented."

I rolled my eyes.

"What do you want?"

"Breakfast."

I stared at him.

"Breakfast?"

"Yes. Apparently, you're supposed to eat when you're alive."

I couldn't help laughing.

He smiled.

"There she is."

I frowned.

"Who?"

"The girl who looked ready to murder everyone yesterday."

"Give me time."

He laughed and leaned against the doorframe.

"Come downstairs. Alexander wants to speak with you."

I immediately became suspicious.

"About what?"

"Your university schedule."

"Tell him I'm not interested."

"Unfortunately, he doesn't accept that answer."

"Then he can learn."

Adrian chuckled.

"You're going to give him a heart attack."

"Good."

He shook his head.

"Come on, trouble."

*****

The dining room was unusually crowded.

Alexander sat at the head of the table, reading something on his tablet. Sebastian was beside him, scrolling through his phone.

Richard wasn't there. Neither was my mother.

I took the empty chair and reached for a glass of water.

"Good morning," I muttered.

"Morning, princess," Adrian replied, taking the seat beside me.

Sebastian looked up.

"Sleep well?"

"Not particularly."

"Nightmares?"

I stared at him.

"Do you always ask unnecessary questions?"

He smiled.

"Only when I'm bored."

Alexander placed his tablet down.

"Isabella, we need to discuss your security."

I sighed.

"Here we go again."

"Someone managed to enter the university grounds yesterday. That means your location is no longer safe."

"I didn't invite that creature!"

"Nobody said you did."

"Then stop treating me like I'm responsible for everything!"

Alexander's expression remained cold.

"Starting today, you'll have security accompanying you whenever you leave this mansion."

I nearly choked on my water.

"Absolutely not."

Sebastian laughed.

"I like her."

Alexander ignored him.

"This isn't negotiable."

I placed my glass down.

"Neither is my freedom."

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Adrian leaned toward me.

"Maybe we can negotiate."

I looked at him hopefully.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"Yes. We could start with two guards instead of four."

I stared at him. "You're not helping."

He laughed so much like his whole world depended on it.

After breakfast, I decided to explore the mansion.

If I was going to live here, I needed to know where everything was.

The mansion had three floors, several sitting rooms, a private gym, an indoor swimming pool, and more bedrooms than I could count.

I was walking through the second-floor corridor when I noticed a door at the far end.

Unlike the other rooms, it was locked.

A strange feeling settled in my stomach. I approached it, something about the door felt familiar.

I placed my hand against the handle. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my palm.

I gasped and pulled away.

A whisper entered my mind.

Find the truth.

I looked around but nobody was there.

I slowly touched the handle again.

This time, the pain disappeared, and the lock clicked.

My eyes widened.

I pushed the door open.

The room was dark and covered in dust. A large bookshelf stood against one wall, while several old photographs were scattered across a desk.

I stepped inside.

Why would anyone keep this room locked?

I walked toward the desk and picked up a photograph.

It showed a young man standing beside a beautiful woman.

The woman looked familiar. I stared at her face.

It was my mother, but the man beside her wasn't Richard. He was tall, handsome, and had striking golden eyes.

My fingers trembled.

I turned the photograph over.

A name was written at the back.

Lucian and Catherine.

My father.

I was so distracted that I didn't notice the footsteps behind me.

"What are you doing in here?"

I spun around.

Alexander stood in the doorway. His expression was terrifying.

I held up the photograph.

"Who is he?"

He looked at it. Then his jaw tightened.

"Put that down."

"Is this my father?"

"Isabella, leave the room."

"Answer me!"

He walked toward me and took the photograph from my hand.

"Some rooms in this mansion are off-limits."

I stared at him.

"Why? Because they contain secrets?"

His eyes flashed gold.

"Because some truths are dangerous."

I laughed bitterly.

"That's what everyone keeps telling me."

I stepped closer.

"Did you know my father?"

Alexander didn't answer but his silence told me enough. Before I could question him further, another voice interrupted us.

"Alexander?"

Richard stood behind him.

His eyes moved from the open door to the photograph in Alexander's hand.

For a moment, he looked genuinely frightened.

Then he stared at me.

"Who allowed you into this room?"

I folded my arms.

"Nobody. The door opened."

Richard looked at Alexander.

"Get her out of there."

I shook my head.

"No. I'm not leaving until someone tells me what's going on."

Richard's expression hardened.

"Isabella, you have no idea what you're interfering with."

"Then explain it!"

He looked at the photograph again.

Then he said something that made my entire body freeze.

"That room belonged to your father."

I stared at him.

"What?"

Richard took a slow breath.

"Lucian Sullivan was my younger brother."

A brief silence filled the entire room.

My mind struggled to process his words.

My father was Richard's brother?

I looked at Alexander. Then at the photograph, and suddenly, everything became more complicated

Because if Lucian was Richard's brother, then the three men I had been calling my stepbrothers were connected to me by blood.

My heart began pounding.

"Wait..."

I looked at Richard.

"Does that mean Alexander, Sebastian, and Adrian are..."

Richard closed his eyes.

"Yes, Isabella."

His next words shattered everything.

"They are brothers."

And just like that, I realized there was something much bigger hidden behind my mother's marriage.

Something nobody had intended for me to discover.