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Lucian stood outside the door of Kane House, his fingers nervously brushing the hem of his new black jeans. His white shirt clung to his chest in the cool air, and his sneakers squeaked softly against the tiles beneath him.

He let out a sigh, his breath heavy with frustration. Please, not today. I'm not in the mood for any long talks with them. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, but the looming possibility of facing his mother and the others felt overwhelming.

He glanced at the door, half-expecting it to remain shut. To his surprise, it opened with a near-silent creak.

Stepping inside, Lucian's shoes clicked faintly against the pristine white tiles of the hallway. His gaze instinctively darted up as his foot met the familiar floor. He moved forward, intent on heading upstairs and avoiding any unnecessary interaction. His mother had been spending all her time in the lobby lately, rarely retreating to her office.

But something felt off.