Alexander and the others arrived back at the villa as night settled in. The courtyard grew quiet once the car’s headlights turned off, the only sound left being the soft crunch of gravel under their feet. Evelyn walked inside without saying a word. Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor. Her face looked calm, but the silence around her felt heavy and impossible to ignore.
Howard, however, was in a cheerful mood. He poured himself a glass of wine, leaned back comfortably on the couch, and hummed a little tune. “Finally,” he said, taking a long sip. “It feels good to win for once.”
Evelyn turned toward him sharply. “Win?” she said, her voice low and serious. “Howard, don’t you find anything strange about Alexander?”
Howard frowned, the glass paused halfway to his lips. “Strang
