I felt a dull ache in my head, causing me to toss and turn uncomfortably. It was as if I feared the wax might drip onto my hands.In a haze, I murmured, "Mommy, does it hurt?"She said something, and her voice echoed persistently in my ears.A warm hand gently clasped mine, guiding me through winding paths, past a towering tree surrounded by vibrant flowers, until we reached a small tree."What kind of tree is this, Mommy?" I looked up at the short tree."An almond eucalyptus tree. It’s the tallest tree, do you remember?" Holding a package, she began to dig into the soil under the tree.My head throbbed. I tossed and turned in bed."Chlo, wake up." A gentle voice called out to me.I mumbled, trying to open my eyes, but I couldn’t."Chlo... wake up."The voice grew clearer.Yet, my mother's voice continued to echo, "It's the tallest tree. Remember this, okay?""Chlo, wake up." I felt a large hand gently tapping my cheeks.Startled, I abruptly opened my eyes.My head was po

I knew Atlas seemed cold on the outside, but deep down, he was warm-hearted. He cherished family above all else.Perhaps family love was something scarce in his life. In the Pierce family, it was practically non-existent, which explained his distant attitude toward his grandfather.All they showed toward their kin was indifference and cruelty.As I looked at the elderly woman before me, I softly called out, "Sandy."She instantly broke down, embracing me once again. "Ms. Stella, you've grown up so much! I’m so happy that I get to see you again.”I felt choked up too, and I was deeply regretting not remembering anything. I hated not understanding her significance in my life.Atlas quickly pulled me away, telling the nanny, "You say you're not old? You cry at the drop of a hat. That's a sign of ageing."Sandy chuckled at his words. "You just want me to get old, don’t you?”"You still have kids to take care of, so don't make her cry. She's pregnant now.” Atlas sounded somewhat smu

"Mr. David sold this place after Mrs. Nancy passed away, but the buyer went bankrupt. These two courtyards were abandoned for many years, and rumors started spreading about ghosts haunting the place. But..." Sandy shrugged.Then, she continued, "Mr. Atlas doesn't believe in that nonsense, so he bought them all back.""Why would people say that?" I asked."Well, some malicious people wanted to stir up trouble, but it was all for the best. The properties eventually returned to Mr. Atlas's hands despite being abandoned for over a decade," Sandy looked proud."He's not afraid of anything supernatural. This was his grandmother's property, after all. What's there to be afraid of?" She laughed contentedly."After Mr. Atlas took over, he renovated the place. These courtyards are quite spacious. When the weather clears up, I'll show you around. It's beautiful here. “Mr. Atlas used to bring you here when you two were younger. Afterward, Mr. Atlas found me and asked me to look after this p

This must be David's bedroom. A wooden board divided the interior.In front of the board, there was a set of redwood tables and chairs, with three seats on each side.David, who was wearing a white suit, was sitting on the main redwood armchair.As we approached him, I could see that although he was thin, he didn't seem frail, which contradicted the news we had heard on the phone, that he had been gravely ill.Atlas’s expression was cold, indicating that he had anticipated this.However, I felt unsettled. They had claimed he was critically ill, but everything seemed fine. What was the point of that deception? Why was Celine so eager for us to return? What was her motive?Thankfully, Atlas remained composed, indicating he had anticipated this.But that woman had said things weren't looking good when he called her. I had clearly heard her, and I knew she wasn't our nanny.David was the first to speak, setting down his teacup and looking at us as we approached."If it weren't for

I intentionally made that remark.Suddenly, I noticed the old man glancing at me.I had heard about the Pierce family's history from Grandma Rose.When the Pierce family first arrived in Nocturnia, things weren't easy for them. Their fortunes had completely turned around only after David had married the eldest daughter of the Cross family.I figured this mansion must have been built during that time. Everything about it, from its location and architectural style to the overall maintenance of the courtyard, exuded an ancient style. However, Celine's mother was just a mistress who favored luxury and fashion, so she wouldn't have liked it here. Even if she had, she wouldn't have been entitled to live here, as it belonged to the eldest daughter of the Cross family.So it was only natural that Celine had never lived here.The drizzle continued, and I couldn't be bothered to contend with Celine. Instead, I strolled leisurely in the courtyard, admiring the view of the garden. I didn't