Suspicious Shade

Chapter 4: Unseen Shadows

Yve walked through the quiet halls of the manor, her mind still swirling with thoughts of her encounter with Felix. Just as she was lost in her thoughts, she heard a voice calling out to her.

"Yve! You're back late tonight."

Yve turned to see Calix, Felix's younger brother, standing in the hallway. He leaned against the wall, a curious look on his face as he addressed her.

Yve nodded in greeting, trying to hide her weary state. "Yeah, I had some things to take care of," she said evasively.

Calix raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced by her explanation. "Oh, really?" he said, his tone bordering on playful sarcasm. "What kind of 'things'? A late night rendezvous with my brother?"

Yve rolled her eyes at Calix's comment. "No, nothing like that," she replied, her tone firm. "Just some personal stuff."

Calix chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. "Personal stuff, huh? Sounds suspicious to me," he teased.

Yve let out a small sigh, not having the energy to play along with his games. "It's none of your business, kid," she retorted.

Calix feigned offense at her use of "kid," playfully clutching his chest. "Hey, I'm not a kid anymore, you know," he protested.

Yve couldn't help but chuckle at his exaggerated reaction. "Sure, sure," she said sarcastically. "You keep telling yourself that, 'not a kid.' "

Calix scoffed at her playful jab, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh, ha ha. Very funny," he responded, his tone dripping with mock annoyance.

He regarded her for a moment, his expression turning more serious. "But really, though," he said, his voice dropping to a quieter tone. "How was your day? You look exhausted."

Yve smiled tiredly at Calix's concern. "I'm fine, just tired," she reassured him.

Calix studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "You sure about that?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism. "You look like you're about to fall over."

As Yve and Calix continued their conversation, another figure appeared from one of the side halls. It was Manang Marlin, a middle-aged woman who had been working as the brothers' nanny since they were children.

Manang Marlin was a constant presence in the manor, known for her warm smile and gentle demeanor. Seeing Yve and Calix engaged in their conversation, she walked over to them, her eyes filled with concern.

Manang Marlin approached the pair, her face lighting up in a warm smile. "Calix, your father is calling for you," she said gently.

Calix's expression shifted at the mention of his father, his previous playfulness replaced by a hint of tension. "Okay, I'll go see him," he replied, pushing himself away from the wall.

Manang Marlin nodded, her attention turning to Yve. "And you, my dear," she said, her tone maternal and comforting. "You must be tired. I'll take it from here."

Yve glanced at Manang Marlin, surprised by her kindness despite the transactional nature of her relationship with the family. "Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

Manang Marlin paused, her expression softening at Yve's question. She placed a gentle hand on Yve's shoulder, her eyes filled with understanding. "Despite your circumstances, you're still a part of this family now, dear," she replied gently. "And family should be treated with kindness."

Manang Marlin gave Yve a small smile, her eyes filled with a mix of sympathy and resignation. "And you're going to be a part of this family soon," she repeated, her voice low. "Felix's wife. You'll be the lady of this manor."

She paused for a moment, her expression shifting as she regarded Yve's still weary demeanor. "Is that what's got you so tired, dear?" she asked gently.

Yve's shoulders sagged as the weight of her situation settled upon her once again. Manang Marlin's words hit close to home, mirroring the reality of her predicament.

She sighed heavily, her eyes cast downward. "Yeah, I guess you could say that," she murmured. "It's just... a lot, you know?"

Manang Marlin's expression softened further, her eyes filled with genuine care. "Come on, dear," she said, her voice gentle yet firm. "You should get some rest. You look like you're about to collapse."

She gestured towards Yve's room, giving her a reassuring smile. "Let me walk you to your room, and then you can get some sleep. You need it."

Manang Marlin led Yve down the hallway, her hand on Yve's elbow, offering steady support. They walked quietly for a few moments, the only sound being their soft footsteps on the hardwood floor.

Finally, they reached Yve's room. Manang Marlin gestured towards the door. "Here we are," she said, a hint of motherly concern in her voice. "Get some rest, my dear. You'll feel better in the morning."

As Yve laid in bed, her weary body finally succumbing to sleep, her mind began to spin into a nightmare. In her dream, she was once again standing in the same hospital hallway, the same enigmatic shadow figure lurking in the distance. This time, the figure slowly began to approach her.

Yve tried to run away, but her legs felt weighed down by an invisible force. The figure continued to advance, its faceless presence growing more menacing by the second.

The shadow figure slowly approached Yve, its every step echoing loudly in the deserted hallway. Fear consumed Yve as she tried to scream, but no sound escaped her lips.

The figure was now right in front of her, its imposing figure blocking her path. But just as it reached out a shadowy hand towards her, Yve's eyes snapped open. She sat bolt upright in bed, her heart racing and her body drenched in sweat.

Yve's eyes snapped open as her alarm blared to life, jolting her out of her nightmare. She sat up in bed, her heart racing and her body still shaking from the intensity of the dream.

Just as she was starting to gather her bearings, there was a knock on her door followed by a soft voice calling out.

"Miss Yve? It's time to wake up. Master Felix has left a letter for you."

Yve's heart skipped a beat as she heard the mention of Felix's name. Despite her exhaustion and lingering fear from the nightmare, curiosity got the better of her.

She quickly got out of bed and opened the door, finding one of the house maids standing there with an envelope in her hand.

"Master Felix left this for you, miss," the maid said reverently, handing Yve the envelope.

As Yve stared at the letter in disbelief, her eyes scanned through Felix's words. The content of the letter was the last thing she expected - Felix had organized a grand birthday bash just for her without her knowledge. He had spent an exorbitant amount of money in the process, which left her shocked and overwhelmed.

Yve's mind raced with conflicting emotions, her expression shifting from surprise to outrage. She couldn't believe Felix would do something so extravagant without even discussing it with her first.

Yve's eyes widened as she continued reading the letter, her lips parting in shock. She couldn't believe what she was reading - a grand birthday party, just for her? Felix had outdone himself on the extravagance, spending an ungodly amount of money on something she never asked for.

"Holy s*it," Yve muttered under her breath, her expression a mixture of surprise and disbelief. "Is he serious?"

The maid standing in the doorway watched Yve's reaction with a suppressed smile. Upon hearing Yve's muttered curse, she responded with a nod, confirming the truth of the letter's contents.

"Yes, miss," the maid replied respectfully. "Master Felix has planned a lavish party in honor of your birthday. He's spared no expense."