The iron gates of the Vance estate parted silently, like the jaws of a massive, sleeping beast welcoming its prey.
Elena leaned her forehead against the cool, tinted glass of the luxury sedan's passenger window, her eyes widening as the sprawling property materialized through the twilight mist. Located deep within the city's most exclusive enclave, the estate was less of a home and more of a private fortress. A long, winding driveway lined with perfectly manicured, towering hedges led up to a minimalist mansion of white concrete, dark volcanic stone, and massive panels of seamless glass.
The architecture was flawless, striking, and entirely devoid of warmth. Shadows bled from the sharp corners of the structure, emphasized by the dramatic chiaroscuro landscape lighting that illuminated th
