Chapter 8 – The Locked Door
1186 Words
Morning came slowly inside the Knight estate.
Gray clouds hung heavily over London, covering the sky in dull shades while soft rain tapped gently against the tall bedroom windows. Clara stood barefoot near the glass with a cup of untouched coffee warming her hands, though the heat did little to calm the restless thoughts filling her mind.
She barely slept again.
Between the anonymous phone call, Olivia’s unsettling comments, and the strange tension surrounding Alexander, her mind refused to settle. Every corner of the mansion suddenly felt like it was hiding something.
And somehow, that feeling only grew stronger with daylight. A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
“Miss Bennett?” a female voice called carefully from outside. Clara turned toward the door. “Come in.”
Lily stepped inside carrying a tray of breakfast, her soft curls tied neatly behind her head again. Unlike the cold atmosphere of the mansion, Lily carried a quiet warmth that made Clara feel slightly more relaxed.
“Good morning,” Lily said gently while placing the tray down.“Morning.”
Lily hesitated slightly before speaking again. “Mr. Knight had to leave early for a meeting, but he asked me to let you know that the tailor will arrive later for your wedding fitting.”
Clara nearly sighed out loud.Wedding fitting.
Everything in this house somehow found new ways to remind her that her life no longer belonged entirely to her.
“Thank you,” she said quietly. Lily gave a small nod before turning to leave, but Clara stopped her.
“Wait.” Lily looked back.
Clara hesitated briefly before asking, “How long have you worked here?”
A little over two years. “And… what’s Alexander really like?”
The question escaped before Clara could stop herself. Lily seemed surprised for a moment.
Then she lowered her gaze carefully. “Mr. Knight is a good man,” she answered softly.
The response sounded polite. Too polite,like someone speaking carefully rather than honestly.
Clara noticed immediately. “But?” she pressed gently. Lily’s fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the tray.
“He keeps people at a distance,” she admitted after a pause. “Most of the staff are afraid of him.”
Clara frowned slightly,“are you?” Lily gave a small smile. “Sometimes.”
Before Clara could ask more, Lily quickly excused herself and left the room. The conversation only deepened Clara’s uneasiness.
Something about this mansion felt emotionally disconnected, almost as if everyone living inside it was walking carefully around invisible landmines.
And Alexander seemed to be standing at the center of all of it.
Downstairs, Ethan sat alone in the kitchen scrolling through his phone while absentmindedly drinking orange juice. He looked exhausted, his dark hair messy from lack of sleep.
“You’re up early.”
Ethan looked up quickly as Lily entered the kitchen.
“Oh… hey.” To Clara’s surprise, Ethan suddenly looked nervous.
Actually nervous. Lily smiled faintly while moving toward one of the cabinets.
“I didn’t expect anyone else to be awake yet.” I couldn’t sleep, Ethan admitted.
Lily glanced at him briefly. “Because of your sister?” Ethan sighed heavily.
Because this entire place feels strange. Lily paused slightly before continuing her work.
“It’s not always like this.” Ethan raised an eyebrow. That doesn’t sound convincing.
A soft laugh escaped Lily before she could stop herself. The sound caught Ethan off guard. It was small.
Quiet. But genuine.
And for the first time since arriving at the estate, something around him finally felt normal.
“You know,” Ethan said while leaning slightly against the counter, “you’re probably the only person in this house who doesn’t terrify me.”
Lily blinked in surprise before laughing softly again. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Neither of them noticed the security camera quietly rotating above the kitchen hallway.
By afternoon, the rain had become heavier.
The mansion felt unusually quiet without Alexander around, and Clara quickly found herself growing restless inside her room. After pacing for nearly twenty minutes, she finally decided to explore the estate a little.
At least it would distract her thoughts.
The hallways seemed endless, each one decorated with expensive paintings, antique furniture, and massive windows overlooking the gardens outside. Yet despite the beauty surrounding her, the mansion still lacked warmth.
It felt carefully designed,Perfect. But empty. As Clara continued walking, she noticed something strange.
The farther she moved toward the west side of the mansion, the fewer staff members she saw. Eventually, the hall became almost completely silent.
Then she noticed the locked door.
Unlike the other polished wooden doors nearby, this one looked older somehow. Darker. Simpler. And most strangely…
There was no decoration around it,no artwork,no flowers,nothing. Almost like that section of the hallway had been intentionally avoided.
Clara frowned slightly. For some reason, the sight pulled at her curiosity immediately.
She stepped closer.The silver handle didn’t move when she tried it.
Locked.Of course. But just as she leaned slightly toward the door, she suddenly heard something faint from inside.
A sound.Clara froze instantly,her heartbeat quickened.
Was someone inside? She leaned closer carefully, trying to listen again. And then…
“Looking for something?” Clara jumped violently at the deep voice behind her.
She spun around quickly to find Alexander standing several feet away, his expression unreadable as rainwater dripped lightly from his dark coat.
Her heart pounded painfully against her chest. “You scared me.”
Alexander’s eyes briefly moved toward the locked door before returning to her face. “You shouldn’t be here.”
His voice remained calm, but something about it felt sharper now. Defensive.
Clara crossed her arms slightly, trying to steady herself.“I was just walking.” On this side of the mansion?
“There are rules about where I’m allowed to walk now?” Alexander stepped closer slowly, his gaze never leaving hers.
“That depends on where you’re trying to go.” The tension between them thickened immediately.
Clara hated how intimidating he could become without even raising his voice.
“I heard something inside,” she admitted carefully. For the first time, Alexander’s expression changed slightly.
Not fear,not anger,something colder. You imagined it. “No, I didn’t.”
Alexander stared at her for a long moment before speaking quietly. “Stay away from this part of the house, Clara.”
The seriousness in his tone unsettled her instantly. “Why?”
His jaw tightened faintly.“Because I said so.” Clara felt irritation rise again.
“You keep giving orders like everyone is supposed to obey you.” And you keep ignoring warnings.
The atmosphere between them became dangerously tense. Then suddenly..
A loud thud came from inside the locked room. Both of them heard it clearly this time,Clara’s eyes widened instantly.
Slowly, she looked back toward the door. Then toward Alexander.
But the look on his face frightened her far more than the sound itself. Because for the very first time since meeting Alexander Knight…
He looked genuinely shaken.
- Writer
