Helga's brow furrowed in confusion at the abrupt request. Just moments ago, she had commented on how much the girls resembled Esme's father-in-law, and now the mood had shifted. Taking a deep breath, she replied, "Okay," before standing and walking out of the office.
Once Helga left, Esme leaned back in her chair, her thoughts racing. It wasn't as simple as it seemed. These daughters weren't merely victims of circumstance—there was something deliberate about their condition, something meticulously crafted with an unsettling purpose
. The notion struck her as she recalled the eldest daughter, whose fierce love for her sister suggested innocence rather than malice. Could someone so devoted truly be part of something sinister?
The more she pondered, the more questions swirled in her mind. Who could orchestrate such a situation? And for what end? It felt as though she were piecing together a puzzle where every fragment hinted at a deeper, darker truth, one that she couldn't yet see.
