Chapter 4 - The Locked Doors That night, the mansion changed.
What had once looked elegant in daylight now felt like a fortress. Doors were locked from the outside. Guards moved through the halls in pairs, their footsteps soft against the marble. Every chandelier still shone with warm golden light, but none of it felt welcoming.
Elena was taken from the crawlspace and placed in a guest room at the far end of the west wing. The room was beautiful—too beautiful. Heavy velvet curtains. A king-sized bed. Fresh flowers. A locked window.
A prison dressed like luxury.
Lily was brought to her only for a few minutes. The little girl ran into her arms without hesitation, burying her face in Elena’s shoulder.
“They said I had to stay quiet,” Lily whispered.
Elena held her tightly, fighting tears. “You’re safe now.”
But even as she said it, she was not sure it was true.
The man in black stood at the doorway, watching them. He said nothing.
When Elena looked up at him, he gave her a calm, almost unreadable expression.
May you like
Then he said, “You should both rest.”
And walked away.
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