The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Smith mansion, catching the gold frames and polished marble floors in a soft glow. Ann Smith moved gracefully across the living room, adjusting the scarf around her neck, while Davis laughed at something the driver, Henry, had said.
"Mommy, look!" Davis waved a small drawing, nearly tearing it in his excitement. "I made this for you!"
Ann knelt beside him, smiling warmly. "It's beautiful, darling. You're going to make the world jealous of your talent one day." She ruffled his hair, feeling the small heartbeat of her perfect life.
Henry chuckled quietly. "He's very proud of his work, Miss Ann. Always something new."
Ann nodded. "Yes, he is. And he should be."
From the corner of the room, Oliver entered, adjusting his cufflinks. His presence always carried the subtle authority of a man used to control, yet today, there was a small tension in his shoulders, almost imperceptible.
"Good morning," Oliver said smoothly, voice calm. "How are we today?"
"We're well," Ann replied, rising to meet him. "Davis just showed me his drawing."
Oliver smiled at the boy, then turned his gaze toward Ann. "You look… radiant this morning. Busy schedule at the office?"
Ann returned his smile, though her eyes caught a flicker of something in him — maybe pride, maybe unease. "Yes, a bit. But nothing I can't handle."
He nodded slowly, tilting his head as if weighing something carefully. "I was thinking about the upcoming board meeting. Perhaps you and I could go over the plans tonight. Just the two of us."
Ann hesitated. "Of course. But don't you have a dinner with investors?"
Oliver waved a hand dismissively. "Postpone it. This is more important." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Something subtle, something that made Ann's skin crawl just slightly. She shook the thought away. Maybe she was imagining things.
"Alright, then. We'll discuss it tonight," she said, forcing her tone light.
Davis tugged at her sleeve. "Mommy! Can we play before school?"
Ann laughed, bending down to pick him up. "Yes, sweetheart. A few minutes, and then Henry will take you to school."
Henry gave a small smile, but his eyes flickered nervously toward Oliver, as though aware of tension Ann couldn't yet see.
"Mommy," Davis asked suddenly, frowning slightly, "why does Daddy look… different today?"
Ann froze mid-laugh, looking at Oliver. He was smiling, but there was a distance in his eyes, a faint shadow she couldn't place.
"Different?" she asked softly, ruffling his hair.
"Yes," Davis said seriously. "Like he's thinking about something… or someone."
Ann forced a small laugh, brushing off the unease in her chest. "People sometimes have thoughts, darling. Nothing to worry about."
Yet, as she looked at Oliver, she felt a faint chill crawl up her spine. A whisper of unease, subtle but persistent, told her that something was off. Something she could not yet name.
Later that morning, Ann walked through the garden, Davis's hand tucked into hers. The flowers glistened with dew, the scent of roses thick in the air. Birds chirped, and the day seemed serene. But the serenity was fragile, like glass ready to shatter.
Henry, following behind with Davis's backpack, lowered his voice. "Miss Ann… I don't mean to worry you, but I noticed something strange this morning near the gate."
Ann glanced at him, curious. "Strange? What do you mean?"
"There was a car… parked for a long time. A man inside. I thought it odd, but… I didn't think to mention it."
Ann frowned, her pulse quickening slightly. "Did you see the man clearly?"
"No," Henry admitted. "Just shadows. But it felt deliberate. Like he was… watching."
Ann's stomach tightened. "Thank you for telling me. I'll keep an eye out."
As they approached the school, Ann hugged Davis tightly. "Be careful, okay? Listen to Henry, and don't wander off."
Davis grinned. "I will, Mommy! Don't worry!"
But Ann's smile didn't reach her eyes. The morning, the laughter, the golden sunlight — all of it suddenly felt fragile, like a dream that could be broken at any moment.
Returning home, she found Oliver waiting in the office. "Everything fine at the school?" he asked, voice smooth as ever.
"Yes," she replied cautiously. "All fine. The morning was… normal."
Oliver leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Good. I want everything to run smoothly. It's important, you know… stability. In times like these, even small cracks can grow."
Ann nodded slowly, noting the faint tension in his tone. She forced a polite smile. "Of course, Oliver."
For now, life seemed perfect, beautiful even. But deep down, Ann felt the first tremors beneath the surface — subtle, almost invisible, yet unmistakable. Something was coming. Something that would shatter everything she held dear.
And she had no idea it had already begun.