Exhaustion weighed on her body, but her mind refused to rest. The events of the day lingered with her-Daniel's unexpected kindness, Lydia's cold warnings, and, most of all, the unspoken tensio

lway. The estate felt different at night, its grandeur shadowed and cold. The chandeliers, so dazzling during the day

ather and cigar smoke. The room was lined with bookshelves, each shelf meticulously arranged with books, files, and ornate trinkets. At the center stood a large mahogany desk, papers scattered across its surface. Her gaze fell on a locked drawer partially hidden beneath the desk. The lock was simple, and beside it, as if carelessly left behind, was a small key. Her fingers hovered over the key, hesitating. She knew this was dangerous-if she were caught

isappearance of large sums of money, records of forged signatures, and correspondences that suggested coercion. Her family's inheritance, stolen right out from under them. Elena felt a mix of anger and disbelief. The documents were proof of everything she had suspected but had been too afraid to voice. Her father had worked tirelessly to secure their future, only for it to be taken by someone like Mr. Harrington. She carefully copied key information onto a notepad she found in the drawer. The proce

r turmoil. Mr. Harrington barely glanced at her, engrossed in a newspaper. Lydia, as

e cup. "The charity gala is in a week. You'll be assi

am," Elen

nd stay out of areas you

ught out Daniel. She found him in the garden, leaning against a stone fo

," she

rk replaced by something more serious. "You lo

st him, but she needed an ally-and Daniel seemed

omewhere priva

in surprise, but he

tucked away behind the estate, its g

leaning against a tabl

ket and handed it to him. "I found th

on shifting from curiosity to shock. "

ed, we were told the debt was too much, and we had to

he notes. "Forgery, coercion... Th

uments, too. Bank statements, letters-your father's

hand through his hair. "This is bad, El

ted. "But I can't just let this

flickering in his eyes. "You're

small smile. "Wi

ready on thin ice with my parents, but... yea

etly, gathering more evidence and planning their next move. Daniel introduced her to a lawy

nd documents Elena had copied. "But you'll need more if you want to take down

nation burning in her

sense of purpose. She wasn't just a servant anymore-she was

he couldn't shake the feeling that the H

e was

of man to overlook even the smallest dist

in a dangerous game. And now, t