The morning sunlight filtered through the lace curtains of the mansion, casting delicate patterns on the marble floors. Birds chirped outside, and somewhere in the distance, Elora’s delighted giggle echoed faintly.
Alina stood quietly in the hallway outside her room, watching as the little girl spun in circles in the garden, arms stretched like wings.
“Elina! Look! I’m a fairy!” Elora twirled again, her pale pink dress fluttering with her movement.
A soft smile tugged at Alina’s lips. “You certainly are,” she said, stepping back into the shadow before Ethan came into view.
He was coming down the hallway, already dressed in casual outdoor wear. “Elora,” he called, “ready for the lake trip?”
“Yes, Papa!” she yelled from outside, her excitement bubbling over.
Alina’s heart thudded once. She was supposed to go with them—Elora’s caretaker, after all. But today, she couldn’t afford it. The mission she’d been stalling for days now could not wait any longer. She needed to get into his office. Today, while he was away.
“Alina, we’re leaving in ten minutes,” Ethan said, barely sparing her a glance as he passed.
That was her moment.
She staggered slightly, leaning a hand against the doorframe. “Mr.Vance..… I don’t think I can come today.”
Ethan stopped and turned, his brow furrowing. “You were perfectly fine this morning.”
“I… I know,” she replied, her voice soft, slightly hoarse. “I think it’s something I ate. I feel lightheaded. My stomach… it’s just not good.”
He narrowed his eyes. “How convenient.”
Alina didn’t flinch. “I wouldn’t skip a trip Elora was excited about unless I truly couldn’t manage it.”
“Hmm.”
“Elina?” Elora had run inside, her worried face peeking up at her. “Are you sick?”
Alina crouched down, brushing a hand over the child’s hair with a warm smile. “Just a little. Nothing serious, sweetheart. A bit of rest and some medicine, and I’ll be as good as new.”
“But you promised you’d come…”
“I know, and I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice thick with fake guilt that somehow became real under Elora’s wide, sad eyes. “I’ll come next time, okay? You go enjoy the day. Bring me back a leaf or a flower from the lake?”
Elora hugged her tightly. “I’ll get the prettiest one.”
“Thank you, baby.”
Ethan was still watching them. Something flickered across his face as Elora kissed Alina’s cheek.
“She’s been seeing you as a mother,” he said quietly when Elora skipped off. “Don’t make her disappointed.”
The words were sharper than they needed to be, and Alina flinched inwardly.
“I won’t,” she said firmly, meeting his gaze.
After a long pause, Ethan turned. “Fine. Stay. Rest.”
---
By midday, the mansion was quiet.
Ethan’s car had driven off over an hour ago. Elora’s laughter no longer echoed. And Alina, no longer pretending to be sick, stood outside the locked door of his home office.
She had memorized the keypad code the week before—observing from the corner of her eye when he’d entered it late at night.
With deft fingers, she entered the sequence. The lock clicked open.
The office was a modern blend of sleek design and calculated organization. Nothing seemed out of place. The bookshelf to the left, the mahogany desk at the center, the tall windows—everything screamed power and control.
Alina’s eyes swept the room. She moved quickly, heading for the desk first. She had stored printed copies from previous snooping in a secure spot elsewhere. She wouldn’t take anything this time.
She just needed more.
She opened drawers carefully, flipping through documents. The top drawers contained nothing but standard business reports. A locked file cabinet stood beneath the desk. She knew better than to try forcing it.
But something felt off.
She glanced toward the bookshelf. The layout of the books… the gap between volumes… odd. She walked over, running a finger along the spines.
One book tilted too easily. A mechanism clicked.
A hidden drawer slid out from behind the middle shelf.
Inside, a slim black folder marked “R-Alpha: Rev Phase II.”
Alina’s heartbeat quickened.
She opened it.
Inside were diagrams, digital schematics, and one familiar name: Revenant.
But what caught her breath was a photo tucked behind the pages.
A picture of a younger Ethan—smiling beside a man with identical eyes. A brother?
The label beneath read: Dr. Elias Wraith – Co-Founder, Revenant Project.
She didn’t know Ethan had a brother.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she closed the folder and slid it back. Everything returned exactly as it was.
The weight of this discovery hung heavy on her as she left the office, locking the door behind her.
Ethan had secrets. Personal ones.
And now, she held a piece of it.
---
The sun was beginning to set when the mansion doors burst open again.
“Elina! Look what I found!” Elora ran in, clutching a wildflower.
Alina knelt, catching her in a warm hug. “It’s beautiful! Thank you, my little explorer.”
“You’re okay now?” Elora asked eagerly.
“Much better,” Alina replied with a soft laugh.
Behind Elora, Ethan entered, his eyes immediately narrowing at the sight of Alina standing upright, energized, and smiling.
“You look… surprisingly recovered.”
Alina turned to him calmly. “Rest works wonders.”
Ethan didn’t respond. But the doubt in his eyes didn’t fade.
Later that night, Alina found herself in the kitchen, helping Elora set up a drawing space. Markers, paper, and glitter spilled across the table.
“Papa said I can draw you too,” Elora grinned.
“A princess.”
“I’m honored,” Alina replied with a small laugh.
She leaned over to hand her a blue marker—just as Ethan reached from the other side to grab the same one.
Their fingers brushed.
The contact was brief but electric
.
Alina’s body jolted slightly, and she immediately pulled her hand back, eyes wide.
Ethan looked at her—his expression unreadable.
She looked away quickly, forcing a smile. “Sorry. Just startled.”
“Over a marker?” he asked, one brow raised.
“Just… reflexes.”
He didn’t push it, but he didn’t look away either.
The air was suddenly too still. Too charged.
Thankfully, Elora broke the tension with a loud sneeze, glitter flying everywhere.
---
That night, lying in her small servant’s bed, Alina stared at the ceiling.
The warmth of his fingers still lingered on hers. That stupid, fleeting touch.
Why did it make her feel anything?
Why had she reacted like a startled schoolgirl?
She turned over, groaning into the pillow. “Idiot…”
Meanwhile, in his room, Ethan stood by the window, arms crossed. He wasn’t thinking about the lake, or work, or the Project.
He was thinking about her.
Why had she looked so guilty?
Why had she jumped at his touch?
What was she hiding?
And why—despite everything—did her absence at the lake… feel strange?
---
End of Chapter 5
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