The Threads Of Deceit

Chapter Six: Secrets Beneath the Surface

Ellie sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers drumming against the wooden frame as frustration coursed through her veins. Days had passed since her search of the mansion yielded nothing. No sign of the supposed debt, no documents, not even a hint of the paper trail that tied her to Vivian and Lucas's web. She had expected this—after all, a con artist like Vivian would never leave evidence lying around in plain sight. But the lack of answers only fueled her resolve.

She leaned back, closing her eyes, letting the events of her first night here replay in her mind—the night she had encountered Lucas, the cold, stern man who had banished her from the forbidden room without so much as a second glance.

That room... The thought echoed in her mind. He had been so insistent, so protective of whatever was in there.

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that the answers were behind that door. But Lucas was always around, and so was Vivian. She needed the perfect opportunity to get in there unnoticed.

Her eyes drifted to the small window above her bed, sunlight streaming through and casting long shadows across the floor. The day stretched ahead of her, but all she could think about was how to finally unravel the mystery that had been plaguing her.

Later that morning, Ellie was in the kitchen preparing Lunch, her hands moving deftly as she chopped vegetables for the staff. Lizzy, the youngest maid, was bustling around beside her, chattering away about nothing in particular. The chatter was a welcome distraction, but Ellie's mind was elsewhere—back in that forbidden room, behind the door Lucas had so sternly warned her away from.

"Miss Ellie, you're really quiet today," Lizzy said, her brows furrowing in concern.

Ellie blinked, realizing she had zoned out. She forced a smile. "Just thinking, Lizzy. Nothing to worry about."

Before Lizzy could respond, the sharp sound of heels clicking on the marble floor drew both their attention. Vivian swept into the room, her eyes scanning the kitchen before they landed on Ellie. Her expression was one of disdain, her lips curling slightly at the corners as she spoke.

Lucas is not very far behind her as usual.

"Ellie," Vivian said, her voice cold and cutting, "I don't pay you to stand around daydreaming."

Ellie's spine stiffened, but she kept her expression neutral. "I'm preparing Lunch, Mrs. Valore. It'll be ready in just a moment."

Vivian arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Make sure it's done properly"

Why is she always on her back ? Ellie thought.

Lizzy's wide eyes darted between the two women, but she stayed silent, her hands twisting nervously in her apron.

Ellie nodded, biting back the retort that burned on her tongue. She turned back to her work, determined not to let Vivian's words affect her, though they stung more than she cared to admit.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ellie noticed Lucas standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched the interaction. His face was unreadable, cold as ever, but there was a tension in his posture that hadn't been there before.

For a moment, their eyes met. Ellie felt something unfamiliar flicker between them—a spark of something dangerous and unsettling. Lucas quickly averted his gaze, his jaw tightening as he turned on his heel and walked away without a word.

Lucas remained unsettled throughout the afternoon. Vivian's harsh words toward Ellie had left an imprint, but he couldn't afford distractions—not with what they were involved in. He tried to push the thought of Ellie aside, convincing himself that it was nothing more than a fleeting moment of concern. But his mind kept drifting back to her, to the way she had stood there, taking every insult with quiet dignity, and how she didn't shrink under Vivian's venomous gaze.