The makeshift medical station in the estate’s morning room looked like something from a disaster movie—portable ultrasound equipment, IV stands, […]

The estate’s old wine cellar hadn’t been used for storage in decades, but its stone walls and medieval construction made

The federal agents provided enough distraction for Cole to act. While Vivienne and Nadia Sterling were focused on the approaching

The formal gardens at ten in the morning looked like something from a magazine spread—perfectly manicured hedgerows casting geometric shadows,

The estate’s security system had developed what Soren called “maintenance irregularities” overnight. Doors that should have been locked stood open.

Ava discovered the nursery by accident while trying to find an alternate route to the estate’s main kitchen. The door

Dawn was breaking over the estate grounds when Rowan Leclerc arrived unannounced, his usually pristine appearance showing signs of a

The power outage struck at 11:47 PM, plunging the Vale estate into complete darkness just as Dr. Caldwell was preparing

The formal dining room had been transformed for what Vivienne called “an intimate family gathering”—the kind of gathering that required

At 2:47 AM, Ava slipped from her bed and moved to the window overlooking the estate’s gardens. The grounds lay