She was standing right there, her hand resting on the wooden railing.

“Hello, Evelyn,” she said softly.

“I’m glad you finally made it home.”

I couldn’t speak, the words freezing in my throat as I looked at her.

And the gold key in my hand slipped from my fingers, hitting the floor with a sharp, metallic ring that filled the silent house.

The storm outside raged on, but inside, the secrets were finally beginning to speak.

And the empty castle was empty no more.

Mary walked down the stairs, her steps slow but steady.

“Is Lauren here?” she asked, looking at the door.

“She’s with Paul,” I whispered, my mind struggling to make sense of the room.

“No,” Mary said, her face going pale.

“Paul is the one who took her, Evelyn.”

The words hit me like a physical blow, the room turning cold in an instant.

“What?” I asked.

“Ethan tried to stop him,” Mary said, her hand gripping my arm.

“But Paul has been working with Vance from the beginning.”

“They needed the keys to the accounts, and they used Lauren to get them.”