I lay in bed, my mind racing with thoughts of Sophia's warning. What did she mean by "things you don't understand"? And why was Julian involved in such mysterious and potentially dangerous activities?
As I tossed and turned, Julian's side of the bed remained empty. I had expected him to come to bed soon after we left the study, but it seemed he had other plans.
The hours ticked by, and I grew more and more restless. Where was Julian? And what was he doing?
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I heard the door open and close. Julian slipped into bed beside me, his body cool and calm.
"I'm sorry I'm late," he whispered, his voice low and soothing. "I had some business to attend to."
I turned to him, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. "What kind of business?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Julian's gaze locked onto mine, his eyes intense. "Just business, Ava," he said, his voice firm. "You don't need to worry about it."
I felt a surge of frustration, but I knew better than to push Julian for answers. Instead, I turned onto my side, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Sophia's warning was more than just a vague threat. It was a warning of something specific, something that could put me and Julian's marriage in danger.
The next morning, I woke up feeling groggy and disoriented. Julian was already up and about, his side of the bed empty.
I got out of bed, feeling a sense of determination. Today, I would get answers. Today, I would uncover the truth about Julian's mysterious activities.
As I dressed and made my way downstairs, I felt a sense of anticipation. What would the day bring? And would I finally get the answers I was looking for?
As I entered the dining room, Julian was already seated at the table, his eyes fixed on his phone. He looked up as I approached, his expression smooth and calm.
"Good morning," he said, his voice even. "Did you sleep well?"
I nodded, taking a seat across from him. "Yes, thank you," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
As we ate breakfast, the conversation was stilted, with Julian seeming distracted and preoccupied. I tried to engage him in conversation, but he seemed disinterested.
After breakfast, Julian stood up, his eyes fixed on his watch. "I have a meeting," he said, his voice curt. "I'll see you later."
I nodded, feeling a sense of disappointment. It seemed I wouldn't get the answers I was looking for, at least not yet.
As Julian left, I felt a sense of unease. What was going on? And why was Julian being so secretive?
I decided to take matters into my own hands. I would investigate Julian's activities, and I would uncover the truth.
With a sense of determination, I stood up, ready to start my search for answers. But where would I begin?
I walked out of the dining room, my mind racing with possibilities. Where could I start looking for answers? I thought about the study where Julian had taken me the night before. Maybe there were some clues there.
As I made my way to the study, I felt a sense of trepidation. What if I got caught snooping? What would Julian say?
I pushed aside my doubts and opened the door to the study. The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn. I walked over to the desk and began to search through the drawers.
The first drawer was filled with papers and documents, all related to the family's business dealings. I scanned through them quickly, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
The second drawer was more promising. It contained a small notebook with handwritten notes. As I flipped through the pages, I saw that it was a journal of some sort.
The entries were cryptic, but they seemed to be referencing some kind of ritual or ceremony. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I read the words.
Suddenly, I heard a noise behind me. I turned to see one of the maids standing in the doorway.
"Can I help you with something, ma'am?" she asked, her voice polite.
I hesitated, unsure of what to say. "I was just... looking for a book," I said finally.
The maid nodded, her expression neutral. "Let me help you find one," she said.
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief. Maybe she could help me find what I was looking for.
As the maid searched through the shelves, I couldn't help but feel like I was getting nowhere. Maybe I was just paranoid, and there was nothing to find.
But then, the maid pulled out a book with a strange symbol on the cover. "Is this the one you're looking for?" she asked.
I felt a surge of excitement. "Yes, that's it," I said, trying to sound casual.
As the maid handed me the book, I felt a sense of trepidation. What was I getting myself into?
As I opened the book, I saw that it was filled with strange symbols and diagrams. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that this was more than just a book.
It was a guidebook to some kind of dark ritual.
I heard footsteps behind me, and I quickly closed the book. Julian stood in the doorway, his eyes fixed on me.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice low and even.
I felt a sense of fear, unsure of what to say. Had I been caught?
***
I decided to start my search in the study where Julian and I had talked the night before. Maybe there were some clues or hints about what he was involved in. As I walked into the room, I felt a sense of trepidation. What if I found something I wasn't supposed to?
I began to search through the bookshelves, looking for any hidden compartments or notes. As I scanned the shelves, I noticed a book with a strange symbol on the spine. I pulled it out, and it felt heavy in my hands.
As I opened the book, I found that it was hollow. Inside, there was a small piece of paper with a cryptic message: "The truth is hidden in plain sight." I felt a shiver run down my spine. What did this message mean?
I continued to search the room, looking for any other clues. I checked the desk drawers, but they were all locked. I wondered if Julian had the key, or if there was another way to access them.
As I searched, I heard a noise behind me. I turned to see one of the staff members, a quiet and reserved woman named Emma, standing in the doorway.
"Can I help you with something, Mrs. Blackwood?" she asked, her voice soft.
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I was just looking for a book," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.
Emma nodded, her eyes scanning the room. "If you're looking for something specific, I might be able to help you," she said, her voice low.
I sensed that Emma might know more than she was letting on. "Actually, I'm looking for information about the Blackwood family," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Emma's expression changed, and she glanced around the room nervously. "I don't think I should be talking about this," she said, her voice barely audible.
I leaned in closer, my heart racing. "Please, Emma," I said, my voice urgent. "I need to know what's going on."
Emma hesitated, and then she nodded. "Meet me in the garden at midnight," she whispered. "I'll tell you what I know."
With that, she turned and left the room, leaving me with more questions than answers. What did Emma know? And what would she reveal to me in the garden at midnight?