I rolled back and forth, Janet’s words cycling continually in my thoughts, their burden resting heavily on my chest like a weight. Rest felt like a far-off wish. Whenever I shut my eyes, her voice returned—*“You are James’ child.”* The phrase seared like a brand, unwilling to release its grip. Letting out a groan, I tossed the blankets aside and swung my legs over the side of the bed, the chilly floor jolting me into total alertness. My heart beat at an unsettled pace, my mind searching for solutions. Janet was concealing something, and I wouldn’t achieve peace until I extracted the truth from her. I put on a robe and went into the hallway. The mansion remained still, with its majestic silence interrupted only by the sporadic creak of shifting wood. Janet's room was nearby, and I approached it with determination, every step feeling more burdensome than the previous one. As I arrived at her door, I stopped, leaning my ear against the wood. Nothing. No motion, no illumination, no noi
Last Updated : 2025-01-23 Read more