Chapter 18: Unearthing the Past

The soft hum of workers echoed throughout the estate as the restoration efforts began in full swing. Amara stood at the edge of the garden, her eyes scanning the grounds that were gradually shedding years of neglect. Ethan watched her from a distance, admiring how the sunlight highlighted her delicate features.

It wasn't often that she let her guard down, but in moments like these, he could see glimpses of the woman she used to be before the world turned against her.

"Lost in thought?" Ethan's deep voice broke through the silence as he approached her.

Amara turned slightly, offering a faint smile. "Just... memories. Some good, some not."

He nodded, his gaze following hers toward the old rose bushes being carefully pruned by the workers. "Do you miss those days?"

"Sometimes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it feels like another lifetime. A life I wasn't really allowed to live."

Ethan's jaw tightened. He had read enough from the system's brief summaries of her past to know how controlled and stifled her upbringing had been.

"You'll have that life now," he said firmly. "One on your terms."

Amara looked at him, her expression unreadable. "You speak as if it's so simple."

"It can be," Ethan replied. "If you let me help you."

The conversation was interrupted by the foreman jogging toward them, a concerned look on his face.

"Mr. Delacroix, Lady Amara," he said, bowing slightly. "We've uncovered something in the east wing during the initial cleanup. I think you'll want to see it."

Ethan and Amara exchanged a glance before following the foreman into the mansion. The east wing had been closed off for years, its doors locked and its windows boarded up. Amara had rarely ventured there, as her father had deemed it "off-limits" during her childhood.

When they arrived, they found a group of workers clustered around a large, dust-covered trunk. It was ornate, with intricate carvings of the Rowe family crest, but its once-polished surface was tarnished and scratched.

"It was hidden behind a false wall," the foreman explained. "We almost missed it."

Amara's hand hovered over the trunk, her expression conflicted. "I've never seen this before."

"Shall we open it?" Ethan asked, watching her closely.

She hesitated before nodding.

The workers carefully pried the trunk open, revealing its contents. Inside were stacks of letters, old photographs, and a small, leather-bound journal. The air seemed to grow heavier as Amara reached for the journal, her fingers trembling slightly.

"It belonged to my mother," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion.

Ethan placed a reassuring hand on her back, grounding her as she opened the journal. The pages were filled with neat handwriting, detailing the thoughts and dreams of a woman who had clearly adored her daughter.

"She wrote about me," Amara whispered, her eyes scanning the words. "About how she wanted to take me away from here, to give me a better life."

Ethan leaned closer, his voice gentle. "What happened to her, Amara?"

"She died when I was young," Amara replied, her tone flat but pained. "My father said it was an accident, but... I never believed him."

Ethan's mind raced. If Amara's father had lied about her mother's death, what other secrets had he buried?

Ding!

New Task Unlocked: Uncover the Truth Behind Amara's Mother's Death

Objective: Investigate the circumstances surrounding her death and bring closure to Amara.

Reward: 2000 Pampering Points + Skill: Advanced Investigation Techniques.

Ethan's eyes narrowed as he processed the notification. He had no doubt this would lead to yet another layer of manipulation and cruelty that Amara had endured. But he was determined to see it through—for her sake.

As the workers carefully repacked the contents of the trunk, Amara turned to Ethan, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Why are you doing all of this for me?"

Ethan didn't hesitate. "Because you deserve it, Amara. And because I refuse to let anyone else rob you of your happiness."

Her lips parted as if to argue, but no words came. Instead, she looked at him with a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability that made his chest tighten.

For the first time, Ethan felt that their relationship wasn't just about survival or system tasks. It was something deeper, something real.

End of Chapter 18