44. Secrets Revealed

Anya

I tread softly down the dimly lit corridor, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and fear. The mansion is steeped in silence, save for the faint murmur of distant voices. My father is out for the weekend while Dmitry and I 'get to know one another.' It’s the perfect opportunity to explore my father’s office, a sanctum where many of his secrets are tucked away.

The door to the office creaks open with a gentle push, revealing the room bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight streaming through the window. The office is a fortress of my father’s power, with its walls lined with books and the air heavy with the scent of old leather and wood.

I inch towards his desk, a massive, intimidating piece of furniture that dominates the room. My fingers tremble slightly as I begin to search through the drawers, looking for anything that might shed light on my father’s deep-seated hatred for Bastien.

As I sift through the piles of documents and reports, my eyes catch a glimpse of a file mark