Chapter 14 – Forbidden Steps
The mansion's halls were quiet, but the faint echo of footsteps told a different story. Catty moved slowly, carrying a tray of linens, her eyes darting at every shadow. Something tugged at her curiosity—a soft whisper she couldn't ignore.
Sofia appeared beside her, voice low. "You shouldn't wander the east wing tonight."
Catty hesitated. "Why? What's happening?"
"Some things are better left unseen," Sofia replied, glancing nervously down the corridor. "Trust me."
Catty nodded, her green eyes narrowing. She felt a strange pull toward the east wing, a sensation that blended fear with the need to know.
---
Meanwhile, Lara had grown bolder. In her maid uniform, she moved silently through the halls, studying Catty from afar. Her eyes caught the way Catty lingered near the east wing doors, a faint glow of curiosity in her expression.
"She doesn't know yet," Lara thought. "But she's too curious for her own good."
A sudden movement from the corner of her eye made her pause. One of the mansion's cameras flickered, almost catching her. Lara adjusted her steps, heart pounding. One mistake could unravel everything.
---
In the study, Logan's amber eyes followed the monitors. He noticed the subtle shifts in movement: Catty edging closer to restricted areas, a shadow lingering too long.
"Ethan," he said quietly, "keep a close watch. She's learning, and someone is trying to use that curiosity against her."
Ethan nodded. "She's cautious, but not careful enough."
"Not yet," Logan replied, jaw tight. "We wait for the mistake. Then we act."
---
Later, Catty approached a door she had never noticed before. It was slightly ajar, and the faint metallic scent of keys drifted from the gap. Her pulse quickened. Something in her memory tugged—a dim room, muffled voices, a hand gripping hers.
Before she could reach for the handle, a soft voice whispered from behind.
"Some doors aren't meant to be opened."
Catty spun around. Lara's eyes gleamed in the dim light, sharp and calculating.
"I… I'm just curious," Catty stammered, trying to sound confident.
"Curiosity can be dangerous," Lara said, stepping closer. "And in this house, danger hides in plain sight."
---
Isabella appeared suddenly, her heels clicking against the floor. She had been observing from a distance and now stepped between Catty and Lara.
"Back off," Isabella snapped. "This doesn't concern you."
Lara smiled thinly. "It concerns me because she's… important."
"Important? To whom?" Catty whispered, eyes wide.
"You'll find out soon enough," Lara replied, her gaze flickering toward the door.
Isabella's eyes narrowed. "Not if I can help it. Catty, follow me. Now."
Catty's heart pounded as Isabella led her away, shadows stretching long across the floor.
---
That night, Logan observed from the study. He could see the tension on the monitors, the subtle threats, and the growing danger. His amber eyes were sharp and calculating.
"She's pushing boundaries," Ethan said quietly.
"She doesn't know yet who's watching," Logan replied. "But she will. And when she does, everything will change."
---
Back in her quarters, Catty tried to piece together her flashbacks. The faint images of a room, hands gripping hers, and muffled voices pressed against her mind. Something important was hidden there, a secret that could explain why she had been brought to the mansion.
A soft knock on her door startled her.
"Catty?" Lara's voice called from the other side.
"I'm busy," Catty said, heart racing.
"Just a word," Lara whispered. "You don't know yet what you're in, but soon you will. Be careful who you trust."
Catty pressed herself against the door, feeling both fear and frustration. She didn't understand why this girl was so fixated on her—or why she felt an instinctive sense of danger whenever Lara was near.
---
Outside, rain tapped against the tall windows. Isabella stood in the shadows of the hall, watching Catty through the slightly open door. Her heart clenched at the sight of the girl she had begun to protect in her own way.
"She's too curious," Isabella muttered. "And Logan… he's allowing it. But not for long."
Meanwhile, the mansion's surveillance cameras captured every move, every whispered conversation. Logan's amber eyes flicked between the monitors and the shadows beyond, calculating, patient.
One small slip, one wrong move, and the delicate balance of control could collapse.
---
Later that night, Catty sat on her bed, tracing the crimson lotus note in her pocket. The memory of her childhood, fragmented and hazy, pressed against her mind: a door, shadows, hands gripping hers. She didn't understand it yet, but she knew it was important.
Somewhere in the mansion, Lara plotted her next move, careful but daring. Isabella lingered nearby, protective and watchful. And Logan, with his sharp amber eyes, prepared for the inevitable.
The mansion was a web of secrets, and tonight, the strands tightened.