whirling. How had she gotten

against my ear, "that this is just the beginning." And then, as quickly as she emerged, she dis

did not understand. None of this made sense. But one thing was certain:

appeared to draw closer, choking me. My hand moved instinctively to my throat, where the knife had

t had just happened. How had she gotten inside? Aiden mentioned security

stuck in my throat. What if she's still nearby? What if she was

t this is only

n't important. I was nobody. A pawn, a replacement for Aiden in his life to keep things lookin

e. I had to get

in my body was on high alert, waiting for her to emerge from the shadows and complete what

en. He'd know just wh

indicate she was still present. My heart was thumping so fiercely that I was confident everyone within

rridor. It was unusually silent, with dim lighting producing long shadows on

feet sinking onto the luxurious carpet as I hurried to Aiden's study. At night, the estate felt like a maze, with endless passageways and shutter

ath stuck in my throat. The space was vacant, as was the bi

" I murmured into the silenc

my phone, but when I looked down at the screen, I saw there was no service. There are no barriers. It didn't make s

study, a floorboard creaked behind me.I stopped moving. I gently turned around. The room was dimly lit, with only a faint glimmer of mo

d to look. My eyes widened as the shadow became more visible-

I knew it wasn't for him. Was the

p to the door, I felt blood draining from my

ce was barely audible

im light to reach the edge of their face.A wom

e previous mentioned w

rawl. "I told you, Anna," she said quietly, her voi

ch the door, something hit me from behind, I landed on th

e. She grabbed my hair, yanked my head uncomfortabl

ted. "You have no idea what you

ugh me, but she was much s

She whispered, her voice full of ve

looked up, she had diappeared into the

houlder, her voice echoing throughout the dimly

she dis

where I had fallen. Every instinct told me to go find Aiden and do somethi

she get to know Aiden? Wha

d Aiden. I was unable to stay here. I am n

my breath coming in quick, fearful bursts. The mansion resembl

r and forced it open without kn

ned vacant. My heart droppe

r when I spotted something. A piece of paper is on

n the front in lar

n

t up, perusing the hastily scri

note, my mind racing. You don't trust him? Was it her

heard a quiet, almost undetectable sound. I spun around, heart

s tightly controlled, yet there was something in the

enquired, his voice cal

ched the note in my palm,

mpts, my voice shook as I asked. "There was

is eyes narrowed. "A

sence overwhelming, but I stood

here," I muttered, panic and a

comforting. But there was a dark edge behind

everyone. As Aiden approached, his stare f