Elena stepped out of the SUV and gazed up at the massive estate before her.
"Massive" didn't even begin to cover it. The house seemed to stretch endlessly, the grandeur of it making everything around it feel small and insignificant. It had taken over thirty minutes just to drive through the endless, winding roads to get to the main house. Security was everywhere—guards at the gates, cameras mounted on every corner, even high fences lining the property.
Elena stood still for a moment, just taking it all in. This was the place. The house that hid the people responsible for her parents' deaths.
Harper stepped out behind her, breaking the silence. "It's a lot to take in, huh? It's kind of overwhelming at first."
"Yeah," Elena muttered, nodding. She turned to grab her suitcase, but Harper stopped her with a hand on her arm.
"Don't touch a thing," Harper said coolly. "That's what we have servants for."
As if on cue, a small procession of staff appeared, bowing low as they rushed to take her bags, moving with synchronized precision.
"Let's go inside," Harper said, her voice as smooth as always. Elena followed her through the grand double doors.
Inside, the mansion was a surreal blend of old-world elegance and cutting-edge modern design. The interior looked like something out of a fairy tale. Massive chandeliers, towering walls adorned with ancient paintings, and sweeping marble floors that gleamed beneath the soft glow of the lights. Everything about it screamed wealth and power.
Harper's voice interrupted her awe. "What do you think? Is it good enough for my top model?"
Elena let out a slow breath. "It's… incredible."
Harper smiled, pleased by the reaction. "Good. I knew you would appreciate it."
Harper paused for a moment, her expression shifting slightly, becoming more serious. "But before you get too comfortable, there are some ground rules you need to know. If you're going to be staying here, you have to follow them."
Elena nodded. "Alright."
"First and foremost," Harper began, walking them up a grand staircase that seemed to stretch forever, "there's the east wing. That's my older brother Xander's territory. No one goes near it. He doesn't like people. In fact, he hates strangers, especially. And I can't protect you from him. No one can. Do you understand?"
Elena looked at Harper, noting the slight tremor in her voice, the fear that flashed in her eyes for just a moment. It was subtle, but she caught it.
A man powerful enough to terrify his own sister.
Interesting.
"I understand, I promise to stay clear of the east wing." Elena said, her tone firm, though inwardly she already knew that she wouldn't keep this promise.
Harper relaxed a little, seemingly satisfied by her response. "Good. Now, as for the rest of my family...My parents, grandparents, my uncle and aunt. They are mostly cool, sometimes easy to get along with. And you have already met Maddox."
Elena winced slightly at the mention of Maddox's name.
"Be careful around him too," Harper warned, her voice softening. "I don't want to see you two... get too close, if you know what I mean. I can't stand him sleeping with every girl I know."
Elena raised an eyebrow. "I'll stay far away from him, no problem."
"Perfect." Harper's smile was back, sweet and satisfied. "That's it, then. I'll introduce you to everyone at dinner tonight, but for now, go ahead and get some rest. You'll need it."
"Thanks," Elena said, giving Harper a small smile as she entered the guest room.
The room was exactly what she had expected: large, luxurious, and elegant. The decor was soft, the walls painted in warm, golden tones, the furniture classic but comfortable. The house had a whimsical feel to it, like a mansion lost in time.
Elena walked over to the balcony and pushed open the doors. The view was nothing short of breathtaking. Stretching out before her was an endless expanse of rolling hills, forests, and gardens that seemed to go on forever. It was a picture-perfect landscape. Elena breathed in the crisp air, letting it fill her lungs.
She had done it. She had successfully infiltrated the Armstrong estate. And now, she was going to find out everything about the people who had taken her parents from her and destroy them one by one.
Her eyes narrowed. It was time for a little snooping around, and the east wing was practically calling to her.
She moved swiftly but quietly, stepping out of the room and into the hallway. The house was huge, unfamiliar, and filled with strange, echoing silence. She wasn't sure where anything was, but she kept moving, heading east, the way Harper had told her to avoid.
The more she thought about Harper's warning, the more curious she became.
As she moved through the dimly lit corridors, She noticed the large family portraits lined on the walls, their eyes seeming to follow her every step. The deeper she went, the colder the air felt. The house was so still, like it was holding its breath, waiting for something.
She turned a corner and found herself standing in front of a large, wooden door. There was something oddly imposing about it. And just like that she knew this had to be the east wing. It was so obvious, almost as if it was calling to her.
But she hesitated for a moment. Harper's warning echoed in her mind. "Do not go over to the east wing." But that only made her more determined. If Harper was scared of her brother Xander, that only meant he was someone worth meeting, someone who had secrets.
She pressed her ear against the door. No sounds. With a glance over her shoulder to make sure no one was around, she slowly turned the knob and pushed the door open just a crack.
A dark hallway stretched out before her. The atmosphere here felt different—heavier, colder, almost suffocating. The walls were lined with thick, velvet curtains that blocked out the natural light, leaving the hallway dark. Everything about this wing screamed "danger."
Still, she crept forward, her footsteps light and deliberate.
At the end of the hallway, she spotted another door—this one slightly ajar. Without thinking, she moved toward it, drawn to whatever lay behind it. Her fingers brushed against the frame as she gently pushed it open.
Inside was a large study, dimly lit with a single desk in the center, piled high with papers. Shelves of books lined the walls, but what caught Elena's attention was a single photo frame resting on the desk. She walked over and picked it up. It was a photo of a young boy—definitely a younger Xander—standing next to an older man who looked very much like him. Definitely his father.
There was something unsettling about the coldness in their eyes, even in the photo. It looked like they were more enemies than father and son.
Before she could analyze it further, she heard a sound. A faint shuffle of footsteps. Elena quickly set the photo back down and backed away.
"Who's there?" a low voice growled from behind her.