The house was hushed after the sweep. Hours spent pulling apart shelves, searching under floorboards, and checking walls for enchantments had left everyone raw. Only one camera had been found—the one in the study—but it was enough to confirm their worst fears.
Rhyan had retired first, too exhausted to keep up the brave front. Lorraine lingered, pacing the halls with her thoughts swirling. Betsy’s face haunted her—the cruel smirk, the way she’d always pushed boundaries, always tried to one-up her. You brought her here, her mind whispered. You opened the door for her poison.
Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore. She padded down the corridor, barefoot, the floorboards creaking under her steps. She stopped before the heavy oak door to Roman’s bedroom, her hand trembling as she knocked once
