The Web of Betrayal

Chapter 2 : BEHIND CLOSED DOOR

Sunlight streamed through the windows as laughter echoed throughout the Vale mansion.

"Count to twenty!" Caelan shouted, covering his eyes with both hands. "No peeking!"

"I won't!" Eliana giggled as she darted down the hallway.

She looked around excitedly, searching for the perfect hiding place. Her eyes landed on her parents' bedroom.

"The wardrobe!" she whispered with a grin.

She hurried inside, pulling one of the heavy wooden doors open.

Caelan quickly followed.

"Move over," he whispered.

The two siblings squeezed inside, carefully pulling the doors shut behind them.

The wardrobe was dark and smelled faintly of perfume and freshly washed clothes.

"It's so dark," Eliana whispered.

Caelan smiled.

"That's why it's the best hiding place."

She hugged her teddy bear tightly.

"What if Daddy comes in?"

"He won't," Caelan replied confidently. "He's still at work."

The wardrobe fell silent.

Outside, the house was peaceful.

A few moments later, the front door opened.

Footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Eliana smiled.

"Mommy's home."

Caelan listened carefully.

His smile slowly disappeared.

"No..."

His voice was barely a whisper.

"That's Dad."

"I told you no one is home," Cassian said as he entered the bedroom.

Another voice answered with a soft laugh.

"You really weren't lying."

Through the small gap between the wardrobe doors, the children watched as a young woman walked into the room beside their father.

She was beautiful.

She wore a fitted red dress, elegant heels, and carried herself with effortless confidence.

She slowly looked around the bedroom.

"So this is your house?"

Cassian slipped an arm around her waist.

"What do you think?"

She smiled.

"It's beautiful."

Her eyes wandered around the room.

"It's even bigger than I imagined."

Cassian chuckled.

"I told you I'd bring you here someday."

The woman turned to him with a teasing smile.

"You know... this feels dangerous."

"Does it?"

"What if your wife comes home?"

Cassian laughed.

"Seraphine's at the hospital. We have plenty of time."

Without another word, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Inside the wardrobe, Eliana froze.

Her little eyes widened in shock.

She couldn't understand what she was seeing.

"D... Daddy..."

Before another sound escaped, Caelan quickly covered her mouth.

His own heart was pounding so loudly he thought they would hear it.

"Please," he whispered.

"Don't make a sound."

Tears rolled down Eliana's cheeks.

She nodded silently.

Outside, the woman laughed.

"You really are terrible."

Cassian smirked.

"And yet, you're still here."

She playfully pushed his shoulder.

"Maybe I like dangerous men."

They both laughed.

Inside the wardrobe, Eliana buried her face against her brother's shoulder.

She tried to stop crying, but her tiny body trembled.

Caelan gently rubbed her back.

"It's okay," he whispered.

Even though he knew...

Nothing was okay anymore.

After a moment, the woman looked around the bedroom again.

Her smile slowly faded.

"Something feels strange."

Cassian raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know."

She looked toward the windows.

Then the bathroom.

Then the wardrobe.

"I keep feeling like someone is watching us."

Cassian laughed.

"You're imagining things."

"Am I?"

She folded her arms.

"The room feels... different."

"It's just an old house."

"It makes all kinds of noises."

She remained silent.

Then...

A tiny sniffle escaped Eliana before she could stop herself.

The woman froze instantly.

"Did you hear that?"

Cassian glanced around before shrugging.

"It's probably the pipes."

"No."

She slowly shook her head.

"I definitely heard something."

She took one careful step forward.

Then another.

Inside the wardrobe, Caelan held his breath.

He tightened his grip around his little sister.

He silently prayed she wouldn't cry again.

The woman's heels clicked softly against the wooden floor as she walked closer.

Closer.

Closer.

She finally stopped in front of the wardrobe.

Her eyes narrowed.

"I knew it..."

She slowly reached out.

Her fingers wrapped around the handle.

"I think..."

She tightened her grip.

"...someone's hiding in there."

The wardrobe door slowly creaked open….