The mansion was awake with quiet activity. Maids moved gracefully across the polished floors, their soft voices and footsteps filling the silence. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, washing the rooms with golden warmth.
Samantha stood by the grand mirror in the guest room, fastening her watch. Her reflection stared back — calm, elegant, composed. But beneath that polished exterior, her mind ran sharp and fast. Kate Carter… what exactly are you hiding?
A knock came at the door. Lynn's voice wasn't there, nor Jake's; instead, it was Nick.
"Breakfast is over. I thought I'd see you off," he said as the door cracked open. His tone was casual, though his eyes betrayed something else — the image of her from last night still haunted him.
Samantha adjusted the strap on her bag, turning to face him with the same serene control as always. "That's very thoughtful of you. But unnecessary."
Nick smiled faintly. "Let's say it's a gentleman's habit. Old-fashioned, maybe."
Her gaze flickered across his face, pausing just long enough for him to feel the weight of her silence. "Old habits can be dangerous, Nick. Sometimes, they come back to haunt."
He froze for half a second, her words cutting deeper than she could know. Then he nodded, holding the door for her as she glided past.
---
Downstairs, Kate sat stiffly on the sofa, her phone gripped in her hands. She had stolen a few minutes away from Naomi's eyes, desperate to finish the transfer. Her fingers trembled as she typed.
Amount: $1,000,000. Recipient: Confidential.
She hesitated, her heart racing. One million gone… but it's better than ruin. No one must ever know what happened that morning. No one.
Her thumb hovered over the "Confirm" button when Chloe's voice broke her trance.
"Kate, are you hiding something from us?"
Kate nearly dropped the phone. She looked up sharply at her sister-in-law, who was leaning casually against the doorframe, sipping coffee.
"Hiding? Don't be ridiculous." Kate forced a smile, slipping the phone under a magazine on the table. "It's just work. You know how stressful things get when the family name is involved."
Chloe tilted her head, studying her with narrowed eyes. "Work doesn't usually make people that pale. Or that jumpy."
"Chloe," Kate snapped, her voice sharper than intended. "Not everything requires your commentary."
But Chloe only smirked and walked away, her heels clicking. "If you say so."
Kate's chest tightened. She wiped the sweat from her brow. If Samantha overheard me last night… and if Chloe keeps digging…
Her mind spiraled, but she forced herself to breathe. No. No one knows. And no one will ever know.
---
By the time Samantha reached the main hall, Naomi was already waiting. She greeted her warmly, almost maternally.
"You must visit again, Samantha," Naomi said, holding her hand with surprising gentleness. "You bring… something this house needs."
Samantha returned the touch lightly. "Thank you. I will."
As Naomi turned away, Chloe approached, sliding smoothly into conversation.
"You're not easy to read, Samantha," Chloe said. Her eyes glinted with curiosity. "Most people who sit at our table are either intimidated or overeager. You were neither."
"Maybe because I don't sit at tables where I don't belong," Samantha replied smoothly.
Chloe laughed softly, shaking her head. "Careful, Samantha. People who say that often end up belonging more than they expect."
Their eyes locked — a dance of suspicion and recognition, though neither blinked.
---
At the entrance, Nick held the door as Samantha stepped out into the daylight. Her luxury car waited, sleek and commanding, its engine purring faintly.
He hesitated before speaking, his voice quieter than before. "I hope last night wasn't… uncomfortable."
Samantha paused at the car door, her hand on the handle. Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes piercing into his.
"Uncomfortable?" she echoed, her voice calm but edged with something sharper. "Nick, the only uncomfortable nights are the ones we can't forget."
The air between them tightened. Nick's throat went dry, but before he could respond, Samantha slipped into her car, the door closing with a decisive thud.
As the car pulled away, Nick remained rooted at the steps, his hands buried in his pockets, his thoughts tangled.
---
From the upstairs window, Kate watched the car disappear down the drive. Her pulse raced.
"Did she hear me last night? Did she know?" Kate whispered to herself, gripping the curtain tighter.
Her phone buzzed again on the nightstand. The same number. The same demand.
One million. Or the truth goes public.
Kate pressed her forehead against the glass, her breath fogging it. "Please, God… don't let her know."
---
In the car, Samantha sat back against the leather seat, her gaze fixed ahead. The morning light caught her profile, sharp and unreadable.
"Secrets always find their way out," she murmured to herself.
And she knew — Kate Carter's secret was already cracking.