It started subtly. Kael had always been sharp-eyed, but now his attention had narrowed into something predatory. He noticed every flicker of Hugo's shadow around Lea.
In the garden, when Lea bent to pick a flower, Hugo was already there, brushing a leaf off her sleeve. In the library, when Lea searched for a book, Hugo conveniently reached the highest shelf before she could stretch her arm. Even during walks around the estate, Kael spotted Hugo pacing half a step behind her, as if tethered by invisible rope.
At first, Kael said nothing. He only watched, silent as a lion in tall grass. But his silence was not peace. It was calculation.
The first strike came during dinner. The family gathered as usual, the long table glittering with silverware, the chandelier painting golden light over polished plates. Hugo, as always, sat beside Lea, his hand occasionally adjusting her glass or sliding a dish toward her.
