MasukThe Winchester mansion was almost filled with family members and close friends, all gathered together to celebrate the long-awaited homecoming of Cornell Winchester.Laughter and soft conversations filled the spacious room, while servants moved around carefully, offering drinks and making sure everyone had something to eat.The atmosphere carried a mixture of excitement and curiosity because Cornell's return had been anticipated by the family for longer than most guests could remember.Cornell sat at a table with some family members, a glass of wine resting comfortably in his hand.At twenty-four years old, he looked handsome and well composed, with a calm appearance that naturally attracted the attention of several young ladies around the room.His silence only made him more mysterious, and more than one woman had already found herself stealing glances in his direction.Zoe sat with her mother at a nearby table, whispering to one another while pretending not to stare openly at the yo
A car parked by the side of the road immediately came to life, its tyres screeching against the road so loudly that Amber froze and turned toward it.For one terrifying second, everything around her seemed to become strangely distant, while the sound of the engine grew louder with every passing moment.She stood there unable to move, watching the vehicle leave its position and begin heading directly toward where she was standing.It was said that when death comes for someone, his own life flashes before his eyes.That was exactly how Amber felt at that moment, because memories came rushing through her mind without warning.She remembered her mother's face, the conversations they once shared, the ordinary moments she had taken for granted, and every memory suddenly felt painfully precious.She stood frozen, gasping for air as the car sped toward her with terrifying speed, clearly intending to crush her.Her eyes widened as the car drew closer, and instinct finally returned to her body
"You have lunch with Grandma, don't you?" Oliver asked with a charming smile. "I'll take you."His voice was calm and confident, carrying the same effortless warmth that had slowly become familiar to Amber over the past few days.He looked completely relaxed, as though spending time with her had become the most natural thing in the world instead of something carefully planned.Amber studied his face for a brief moment, remembering everything that had happened since she discovered the truth about her mother's death.A part of her still wondered whether getting closer to Oliver was the right decision, but another part knew she had already stepped too far forward to turn back."Okay." Amber said, returning the smile.The smile on her face looked convincing enough, but behind it, her thoughts continued running in different directions all at once.She knew she needed Oliver's trust now more than ever, especially because the people responsible for her mother's death were becoming clearer wi
Amber fired, and shockingly hit the very heart point.For a few seconds, she remained completely still, staring at the distant target as though her eyes were refusing to believe what they had just witnessed.The shot had landed exactly where Oliver had demonstrated earlier, and the unexpected success sent a strange mixture of excitement and disbelief through her.Her eyes furrowed in shock as she released a gasp.She slowly lowered the gun, her fingers still wrapped firmly around it while she stared at the tiny mark sitting directly in the centre.Only moments earlier, she had been struggling to control her aim, but now she had somehow managed to strike the most important point."You're natural." Oliver said, stepping closer, his hands wrapped round her waist as he kissed her from behind.Amber immediately felt his body against hers, and the sudden closeness caught her completely off guard after the concentration she had given to the target.Her breath caught when his arms settled aro
Marian, Zoe and their father, Walter were seated at the dining table, about to start breakfast when Amber suddenly stepped down the staircase, dressed neatly as though she was preparing to leave the house.The three of them looked toward her almost at the same time, but Amber did not stop immediately because she had already made up her mind about where she was going.Her face looked calm on the outside, even though the discovery from the previous night had left her carrying a painful secret that she had not told anyone.She had barely reached the last step when Walter's face brightened, and his expression immediately changed into one of genuine excitement at seeing her awake."Amber." Malcolm called excitedly. "You're up. Please come sit down." He pointed at the empty seat next to him. "Have breakfast."His voice carried enough warmth to make Amber pause, because Walter was probably the only person at that table who did not make her feel like an unwanted presence.The empty chair besi
Inside the living room, Marian was busy on call. "Elizabeth, you have got to call off Amber's and Cornell's engagement." She said, feeling agitated.Her voice was low but tense, and the fingers of her free hand kept moving restlessly against the arm of the chair.She had been walking around the living room before finally sitting down, clearly unable to hide the seriousness of whatever she was discussing.Just then, the entrance opened and Amber entered and froze at the conversation.She had barely stepped inside when Marian's voice reached her ears, immediately making her pause with one hand still resting against the door.Amber's first instinct was to announce her arrival, but something about Marian's tone stopped her before she could make even the smallest sound.She slowly closed back the door without a sound and began to tiptoe inside while listening.Her heart had started beating faster, although she could not yet understand why Marian was talking about her engagement with such u







