Marcus stumbled backward in shock, tripping over the edge of the suitcase on the floor and nearly falling flat on his back. His eyes widened as if he had just seen a ghost risen straight from the depths of hell. His breath caught in his throat, making it difficult for his lungs to draw in enough air."T-Thaddeus...?" Marcus stammered, his voice barely audible beneath the suffocating fear gripping his throat. "H-How... how did you find this place...? This doesn't make any sense...!"Thaddeus did not answer immediately. He slowly stepped through the doorway, then closed the door behind him with a single light touch, making almost no sound.Every step sent a faint vibration through the worn wooden floor of the apartment, creating a psychological pressure that slammed into Marcus's chest like a heavy sledgehammer."You look rather surprised to see me, Chef Marcus," Thaddeus said in an extremely calm voice, his tone flat yet carrying an unmistakable weight of death. "Did you really think y

The glow of the massive monitors in the underground control room of the Drake family headquarters cast a cold blue light throughout the soundproof chamber.At the center of the room, Thaddeus sat upright in an executive-style leather chair, his hands clasped together in front of his chest. His expression was calm, but that very calmness radiated an aura of tension far more lethal than any outburst of rage.In front of him, Mr. Robert stood with a respectful bow as he displayed a series of digital forensic records, old medical files, and communication history charts across a massive touchscreen."Young Master," Robert began cautiously, choosing every word with deliberate care. "Our shadow investigation team has completed the first phase of its review of Mrs. Yilna's birth records and digital trail from the past five to six years. As you instructed, we examined every gap in her social circle, travel history, and the list of people who had close access to the Kincaid residence."Thaddeus

Eden's words came slowly but steadily, slipping through the cracks of the panic that had overwhelmed Yilna's mind.Eden looked at Yilna with carefully manufactured confidence, doing his best to calm the storm of fear that was nearly driving the woman to the edge of sanity.Yilna fell silent. She stared at Eden's face directly in front of her. Slowly, her sobs began to subside, replaced by long, trembling breaths. Eden's argument made sense to her, or rather, it was the most comforting thing for a woman who desperately wanted to remain in her safe zone."You... you're right, Eden," Yilna whispered, wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. Her hands, which had been clenched tightly before, slowly relaxed. "Thaddeus... he really is a kind man. All these years we've lived together, he has never once raised his voice at me, let alone hurt me. He always did whatever I asked, took care of this house without complaining, and let me have complete control over every

The atmosphere inside the room suddenly became intensely tense, filled with a suffocating silence.Yet in the midst of the extreme panic overwhelming them, their survival instincts and the false confidence they had just rebuilt forced them to put on their masks immediately.Eden swallowed with difficulty, forcing an awkward smile onto his trembling lips."T-Thaddeus...?" Eden greeted him in a trembling voice, trying to make it sound normal. He straightened his suit before awkwardly stepping closer. "You're... you're back? We... uh, I just happened to stop by to check on things at the house after hearing about the children at the hospital. I didn't expect you to already be here."Yilna, no less panicked, quickly hurried toward her husband. She pushed her fear aside, replacing it with her best performance as a caring wife. She put on a forced sweet smile and sat beside Thaddeus, even daring to place her delicate hand on his arm."Darling..." Yilna said in the sweetest voice she could ma

Yilna's breath caught in her throat. All the strength suddenly drained from her legs, causing her to slump weakly against the side of the desk. The devastating words her husband had just spoken echoed repeatedly in her mind like a sledgehammer, crushing whatever remained of her sanity."Thad... you... you can't be serious, can you?" Yilna whispered hoarsely, tears immediately spilling down her cheeks and soaking her deathly pale face. She looked up at her husband, her eyes filled with desperate pleading. "I... I can explain... This isn't what you think..."Thaddeus did not move. He stood tall with both hands in his trouser pockets, staring at the woman before him without a trace of warmth on his face."Explain what, Yilna?" Thaddeus's voice was eerily calm. "Do you want to explain how our bed has worked for the past five years? How we've slept under the same blanket without a single intimate touch? Or do you want to make up another story about how those two children were born without