The heavy iron gates of the Vance estate parted like the jaws of a silent beast, swallowing the taxi into the dark, winding driveway. Outside, the night was thick and unforgiving, matching the cold dread that had settled deep into my bones. I paid the driver with trembling fingers and stepped out onto the limestone gravel, the harsh wind instantly tearing at the fabric of my cream blouse.
Every step toward the massive front double doors felt like a march to the gallows. My body still ached—a deep, persistent reminder of the hotel penthouse floor—and the physical exhaustion of the day was catching up to me. I pushed the heavy oak doors open, stepping into the grand foyer.
The silence inside the mansion was absolute, heavy, and suffocating.
I walked past the sweeping marble staircase and
