"Mom... You're finally home, how did everything go?” Sally's excited voice reached the house immediately as soon as she saw her mother, but Hailey didn't answer immediately.She quietly removed her shoes near the entrance before stepping into the mansion. The insulated food containers she had carried to Ethan's penthouse were gone, but somehow her hands felt heavier than when she had left.Sally hurried forward to speak with her mother. She had been waiting in the living room ever since her mother left, unable to focus on the television playing silently in the background.One look at Hailey's face was enough.There was no anger or tears, all she could see was only exhaustion, the kind that settled deep inside a person's soul rather than a physical exhaustion.Sally forced herself to smile. “Mom, did you eat anything? I'll ask the kitchen to prepare dinner…. Let's eat together.” Hailey shook her head gently. "I'm not hungry… don't disturb anyone, if you're hungry, eat by yourself, I'

"I'm going to give it to him myself."Hailey said, and her voice carried a quiet determination that neither fear nor regret could shake.Sally studied her mother's face for several seconds before offering a faint nod rather than arguing. “Fine, I'll go with you tomorrow, let's go there together and give it to him.” Hailey managed a small smile. “I think that'll be a good idea.” She carefully placed the wooden case inside a cloth bag before holding it close, almost instinctively protecting it.The two women remained in the basement a little longer, gently returning Ethan's belongings to their boxes. Neither of them rushed. Every book, every certificate, every childhood drawing was handled with a care they should have shown years ago.Eventually, Sally closed the final carton. "It's pretty late already mom, we should go upstairs, you need to take your medicine as well.” Hailey nodded quietly, and before leaving, she glanced back at the rows of dusty boxes stacked quietly against the

"I wasn't expecting you to request another meeting…. What changed all of a sudden?” The mysterious visitor settled comfortably into the chair opposite Charlie, genuine curiosity evident in his voice. During every previous visit, he had always been the one initiating the conversation. Seeing Charlie voluntarily arrange today's meeting was unexpected enough to catch even him by surprise.Charlie rested both hands on the metal table, studying the stranger quietly before a faint smile appeared on his face."Nothing changed, but to be frank, even I didn't expect you to ask for a meeting, but unfortunately it happened.” The visitor leaned back slightly, waiting for Charlie to continue."I've been thinking about our previous conversations.""I'm glad to hear that." The visitor let out a small smile.Charlie nodded slowly. "I replayed every question you've ever brought to this room."The stranger remained silent, allowing him to speak further."At first, I thought you were trying to underst

Ethan's gaze remained fixed on the empty wooden case as he processed everything Hailey had told him. His expression revealed nothing, but the silence that followed made both women increasingly uncomfortable."Mrs. Carvendish, start from the beginning and tell me exactly what happened after you returned from here…. Please don't miss a single detail.” Hailey carefully explained how she and Sally had searched the basement, found Ethan's belongings, discovered the wooden case, and later returned upstairs with it. She also described how the power had gone out during the night and how the security system had stopped responding before the intruder disappeared without leaving any obvious trace.Ethan listened without interrupting until she finished. "Where was the case when the intruder entered the mansion?""In my bedroom."His eyes narrowed slightly. "And the basement?""Someone had searched through your old belongings. Every box had been opened." Hailey explained in a low tone.Ethan lean

“A long drive without a destination is always exciting,” Scarlett said in a cheerful tone, while Ethan sighed. “I wonder how I placed my life in your hands.”The city had already begun glowing beneath the evening sky by the time they left the penthouse.Scarlett drove slowly through the streets, refusing to tell Ethan where they were going.For the first twenty minutes, he didn't question her.He simply sat in the passenger seat with one arm resting against the window, watching the familiar buildings disappear behind them.Eventually, curiosity won over the patience."How much longer?"Scarlett glanced at him. "You've asked that three times before we even started our trip.”"And you haven't answered once." He folded his hands looking outside the window, she shrugged casually. “As I said earlier, I don't know."Ethan turned toward her. “So you weren't lying earlier? You genuinely have no destination?""None.""Then what exactly are we doing?" Ethan frowned at her answer, only for her t