LOGINElara was beginning to suspect that the mansion had a serious problem.Not a plumbing problem. Not a security problem.A people problem.More specifically, everyone in the house seemed determined to make simple things unnecessarily difficult.She discovered this at breakfast."Has anyone seen my dance shoes?" she asked, looking around the dining room.Kai didn't look up from his phone. "Have you checked your feet?"Elara stared at him."Very funny.""I thought so.""They were beside the laundry basket last night."Julian took a sip of his coffee. "Perhaps the housekeeper moved them.""I already asked. She said she hasn't seen them."Adrian turned a page of the newspaper."Ask the staff to check the storage room."Elara sighed. "I don't want everyone searching the mansion for one pair of shoes.""Then perhaps you should keep your things in one place," the quiet young man said from the other end of the table.She turned towards him."Good morning to you too."He continued eating.Kai gr
For a few seconds, nobody in the living room said anything.The young woman standing near the entrance looked around nervously. Her fingers were wrapped tightly around the strap of her handbag, and her eyes kept moving from one face to another.Then she looked at him."Hello," she said quietly.He stared at her.She swallowed. "I'm Sofia.""I heard you the first time."Kai, who had been leaning against the sofa, raised his eyebrows."Well, that's a lovely way to welcome someone.""Nobody asked you," the young man replied without looking at him."See? This is exactly why I prefer my games.""Can both of you stop?" Adrian said.Kai lifted his hands. "I'm not the one being rude."Their grandfather tapped his walking stick against the floor."Enough."The room went quiet again.He looked at Sofia. "Come and sit down, child. You've had a long journey."Sofia hesitated before walking towards the sofa. Elara noticed how uncomfortable she looked. It was as if she wasn't sure whether she was w
Elara read the message again.The child is alive.Her eyes moved towards the archive room.Everyone was still inside, discussing the photograph.She quickly typed a reply.Elara: Who is the child?The message showed as read.No response.“Elara?”She looked up.The young man stood at the doorway.“What are you doing out here?”“Nothing. I was just checking something.”He glanced at her phone.“Another message?”She hesitated before nodding.“It's from the unknown account.”His expression changed.“What did they say?”Elara looked around before answering.“They said Daniel's other child is alive.”He stared at her.“Did they say who?”“No.”He took a slow breath.“Show me.”She handed him the phone.He read the messages, his jaw tightening.“Whoever this person is, they know too much.”“That's what I've been thinking.”He returned the phone.“Don't answer any more messages without showing me.”Elara raised an eyebrow.“Are you giving me instructions now?”“I'm asking you not to take un
The following morning, the grandfather summoned everyone to the dining room.Adrian arrived first, followed by Julian and Kai. The young man entered last, carrying Margaret's blue notebook.Elara was already seated, scrolling through the dance showcase information on her phone.“Good morning,” she greeted.Kai pulled out a chair.“Why does everyone look like they're attending a funeral?”“Because some of us have serious things to discuss,” Adrian replied.Kai sighed.“Another family meeting. Wonderful.”The grandfather cleared his throat.“We're going to the City Arts Society today.”Elara looked up.“Today?”“Yes. Margaret left something there, and I intend to find it.”The young man placed the notebook on the table.“The last page says the truth is hidden where my parents' first song began.”Julian leaned forward.“Do we know what we're looking for?”“No,” the grandfather answered. “But we're going to find out.”Kai raised his hand.“Before we go, can someone explain why we're sudde
“Your uncle Vincent is downstairs,” the security guard repeated.Elara glanced at the blue notebook on her bedside table.“Did he say why he wants to see me?”“No, miss. But your grandfather has asked everyone to remain in the sitting room.”That caught her attention.“Everyone?”The guard nodded.Elara picked up the notebook and placed it inside her bag.“Tell him I'll be down shortly.”As soon as the guard left, she checked her phone.There was another message from the unknown account.Unknown: Whatever happens, don't let Vincent get that notebook.Elara frowned.She typed a reply.Elara: Why is he looking for it?No response came.She put her phone away and headed downstairs.---The sitting room was unusually crowded.Adrian stood beside the fireplace, while Julian sat on the sofa. Kai was leaning against the armrest, looking as though he had been dragged away from something important.The young man stood near the window.Their grandfather occupied his usual chair.Vincent was sea
“Elara? Can we talk?”Vincent's voice came again from the other side of the door.Elara stared at her phone.The photograph was still open on the screen.Margaret.Vincent.Three days after her supposed disappearance.She quickly locked her phone and slipped it beneath a notebook on her desk.“Coming!”She opened the door but didn't step aside immediately.Vincent smiled.“May I come in?”“Is something wrong?”“Not necessarily. I simply wanted to ask you a few questions.”Elara moved aside.He entered, looking around the room before settling into the chair near her desk.“You've become quite interested in Margaret's story.”Elara sat on the edge of her bed.“Is that a problem?”“Not at all. I'm just curious about why.”“I think everyone deserves to know the truth about what happened to them.”Vincent nodded slowly.“A noble thought.”“Thank you.”“But sometimes the truth is more complicated than people expect.”Elara tilted her head.“Is that supposed to discourage me?”He chuckled.“







