Mara pushed open the front door, the soft creak of its hinges breaking the quiet of the evening. The twins were the first to greet her, their chubby faces lighting up as they toddled toward her with squeals of delight. She dropped to her knees, wrapping them in a warm hug, her heart momentarily anchored in the sweetness of home.
"Hello, my darlings," she whispered, kissing each forehead. "Where are your uncles, hmm?"
But the house was too quiet. No clinking glasses, no familiar banter echoing through the hallways. That absence—sharp and sudden—pricked at her nerves. It wasn't like her brothers to all be gone at once, not without a word. Her smile faltered as she rose to her feet, scanning the empty room.
Just then, one of the maids appeared at the foot of the stairs, her expression calm.
"They left a note for you, Miss Mara," she said, handing her a small, folded piece of paper.
