The mansion never slept. Even after midnight, the halls whispered with echoes I couldn't trace. I had learned quickly that Adrian's world was layered with quiet threats and silent rules — every corner, every shadow seemed to have a story, and maybe a trap.
I don't mean to be curious but I just can't help it what is behind those closed doors, the secrets hidden
I wandered, half in curiosity, half in defiance. The ballroom, still fragrant with the remains of the wedding, was empty. Crystal chandeliers hung like frozen stars, their light refracting off the polished floor. I paused, listening to the soft creak of the floorboards beneath my heels.
A door slightly ajar caught my eye. Behind it was a library, its shelves towering with leather-bound books, some so old the spines seemed brittle. I stepped inside, brushing my fingers over the gold lettering. Knowledge, I realized, was power — and I needed both if I intended to survive here.
Then I saw it: a ledger tucked behind a row of books, the kind of thing a careless person might miss. I pulled it out, heart hammering. Pages filled with names, numbers, and dates stared back at me, ink dark and precise. Some were obviously business transactions, others… darker. Blackmail. Threats. Deals that smelled of money, power, and danger. Adrian wasn't just a cold, distant husband — he was a man who controlled lives with ease and fear.
A noise startled me. I spun around. Adrian stood in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame, a faint smirk on his lips.
"Curious," he said, voice low. "I hoped you'd be more obedient."
I straightened, clutching the ledger to my chest. "I'm not a child," I said calmly. "And I intend to understand the world I'm living in."
He stepped closer, the scent of his cologne sharp in the air. "The world you're living in is dangerous. Be careful, Elise. Some doors, once opened… can't be closed."
I met his gaze evenly trying to be as bold as I can. "Then I'll make sure I have the key."
For a long moment, we simply stared at each other. The storm from last night had passed, but tension still crackled between us like static electricity. I felt something unexpected — respect, maybe even admiration — but I quickly buried it. I had a mission, and feelings were dangerous distractions.
I think I saw something flickered in his eyes but it left as quickly as it came he chuckled softly "careful little one don't get too jumpy there's still a lot of time for you to find out what you're into"
"I don't mind starting early so I won't get caught off guard by anything coming" still not backing down
"okay suit yourself" he looked at me for some time as if wanting to see through me before he turned to leave
After he left, I sank into the armchair, opening the ledger again. Every entry was a thread, a map of Adrian's power, his secrets. My mind raced with possibilities. I didn't just want to survive in this marriage. I wanted leverage. I wanted to claim the upper hand, piece by piece.
That night, I slept lightly, my dreams filled with corridors, locked doors, and whispered threats. The mansion was no longer just a house; it was a chessboard, and Adrian and I were already playing a game I hadn't agreed to — yet one I was determined to win.
And deep down, I knew this: Adrian Moreau was dangerous, but so was I.