Chapter 45: Shadows of Doubt
The evening air in the mansion hung heavy with an oppressive stillness, a sharp contrast to the earlier buzz of life when Elena had first arrived here. Now, as she stood in the grand hall, her gaze drawn to the dimming light filtering through the stained-glass windows, an unfamiliar sense of dread began to settle deep within her chest.
Living with Alexander had seemed like a dream at first. The mansion was vast, a sprawling labyrinth of ancient hallways, lavish rooms, and ornate staircases, filled with old-world charm and a kind of gothic elegance that felt almost too perfect. But there were moments when the silence was too sharp, when the shadows seemed to move with a will of their own, when the mansion itself felt like it was alive and breathing—watching her.