Annabelle sat in her car for a long time before driving to her mother’s house. The rain had started again, tapping softly on the windshield. Her father’s words echoed in her mind, low and haunting. “Those closest to you may not be who they seem.”
She gripped the steering wheel tighter. She didn’t want to believe it—but she couldn’t ignore the fear in his eyes.
When she finally pulled into the driveway of her mother’s estate, the sky was heavy with clouds. The mansion stood tall and perfect, its windows glowing warmly against the gray day. It looked peaceful, but something about it felt wrong.
She got out of the car and walked up the marble steps. Her hand hesitated at the door before she knocked.
A moment later, the door opened. Victoria stood there, graceful as always, dressed in a pa
