Night had fallen over the mansion, shrouding every corner in shadows. The curtains were half-open, letting in only a faint ray of moonlight that cast silvery lines on the bedroom floor. A deathly silence reigned, broken only by Isla's ragged breathing.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her back straight but her shoulders trembling slightly. She had been waiting. Waiting for him to come home. Waiting for answers. Waiting to understand why her chest had been hurting for weeks.

The door opened with