Chapter 80

I opened my eyes slowly, stretching my limbs across the soft sheets. The space beside me was empty and cool to the touch, but Ethan’s distinct scent of cedarwood and faint amber still lingered heavily on the pillows.I pushed myself up onto my elbows and turned my head, instantly catching sight of him. He was sitting in his leather armchair near the window, completely dressed and back to his composed, sharp self.Before I could even process the sudden shift from last night’s intense intimacy to his usual morning coldness, his raspy voice echoed through the quiet room."I thought I'd have to ask the staff to come carry you out."I sat up completely, pulling the duvet over my chest as a slight flush touched my cheeks. "Sorry I slept so long, I was just worn out.""Always apologizing..." he murmured under his breath, his eyes fixed on me as he began to say more, but the loud vibration of his phone cut him off.He pulled the phone from his pocket, his eyes dropping to the screen. After sc

Chapter 81

My first instinct, fueled by the adrenaline of discovery, was to take the rusted piece of metal and march straight down to the main kitchen. I wanted to see Ms. Holloway’s face and probably observe her, to see if I could catch a flicker of recognition, a widening of her eyes, anything that would confirm my suspicions. I imagined myself leaning casually against the polished counter, conversationally dropping the key onto the granite surface. The sharp clack of old iron against stone would be like a starter pistol, then I would wait to see who flinched.I was almost at the door, the key gripping tight in my white-knuckled hand, when another thought stopped me. What if it wasn't a servant? What if it was Ethan? Or what if it was a servant, and they just claimed it was an old key they lost? Playing games with the staff right now, when my heart was still pounding from the dream, felt too risky. It’s too terrifing to play detective in the lion's den.My thoughts then pivoted to Ethan, I cou

Chapter 82

ETHAN’S POVThe car pulled to a smooth stop in the main driveway and before the driver could even unbuckle his seatbelt to run around and open the door for me, I pressed the handle and stepped out myself.I stood in the afternoon air for a brief moment, adjusting the cuff of my jacket. I knew I wasn't hungry because I’d already had a long, tedious lunch with a colleague after I left the office, yet a strange, restless pulling sensation settled deep in my stomach. It was an in-depth feeling I couldn't quite put my finger on or understand, an uncharacteristic urge that wasn’t leaving anytime soon. Without dwelling so much on it, I turned and headed inside.The front door clicked shut behind me, the silence of the mansion wrapping around me as usual. Lately, I had grown accustomed to the subtle hum of life in the house, Leo’s small giggles, the distant television in the living room, or Claire’s soft footsteps. But today, there was nothing.I glanced toward the quiet lounge, assuming the

Chapter 83

My feet barely made a sound as I darted down the corridor, holding my breath and clutching my shirt tight against my stomach. I kept checking over my shoulder, terrified that a maid or Ethan himself would turn the corner. The thick folders and stack of paper shoved under my clothes felt stiff and awkward against my skin, but I didn't stop until I burst into my bedroom.I shoved the door shut, turned the lock until it clicked into place, and rested my head against the cold wood.My heart was beating like a wild drum. Slowly, my legs gave out, and I slid all the way down to the carpeted floor. I pulled up my top and pulled out the smooth leather-bound book, the paper files, and batches of the tied envelopes, letting them spill across my lap.My hands were shaking as I smoothed down the edges of the papers. Just five minutes ago, I was standing in Ethan's study, completely alone after he had left me to handle his business downstairs.When the study door had closed behind him, I had stood

Chapter 84

I wiped the dampness from my face with the palm of my hand and pushed myself up from the floor. No matter how much my head was spinning, I had to carry on. Sitting here crying wouldn't bring me all the answers I need right now.I walked over to the closet, reached into the dark corner beneath my sweaters, and pulled out the entire stack of documents. Carrying them to my desk, I pulled out the chair and sat down, spreading the police files across the polished surface.I took a deep breath to steady my pulse and began going through the search warrants and case updates one by one.As I read through the official statements, a strange, chilling detail stood out. Ethan had personally reported Sarah as a missing person to the high-ranking police authorities, requesting an active search to locate her. But according to the dates on those documents, that missing person report was filed during the exact same year Sarah had returned home to me and quit her job at the Vale estate.My brows furrowe

Chapter 85

I picked up my phone and stared at the glowing screen, my brain working fast. If I was going to unmask this person, I needed to play along while drawing them out.I carefully typed out a reply, keeping it just vague enough. “I need real proof before I do anything drastic.” I pressed send and held my breath. A minute later, the screen lit up with a response. Look inside Ethan’s private suite, there is a locked inner closet where he hid all of Sarah’s clothes and personal belongings so no evidence could ever be found. Get closer to him, play your role until he trusts you enough to leave you alone in his room, then search it yourself.I typed back a quick, compliant message, “Understood. I’ll look into it.”To catch this shadow, I had to pretend a little longer. Getting into Ethan's room meant staying close to him, letting him touch me, and acting like I still enjoyed every second of it until he let his guard down completely.I looked at the number once more, it doesn’t seem like a rea