Chapter 5 Deceit

Emilia's mind reeled as she tried to decipher the cryptic message. Who could have written it, and what did they mean by "Trust no one. Not even him"? Was it referring to Edward?

Rachel's eyes locked onto Emilia's, a mix of fear and determination in their depths. "We need to investigate," she whispered. "Find out who wrote this note and what they want."

Emilia nodded, her heart racing with anticipation. Together, they began to search the manor for clues, their eyes scanning every nook and cranny.

As they searched, Emilia couldn't shake off the feeling that they were trapped in a web of deceit. Every door they opened led to more questions, every window they gazed out of revealed more secrets.

Suddenly, Rachel gasped, her eyes fixed on a hidden panel in the wall. "Look at this," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Emilia's heart skipped a beat as she peered into the panel. Inside, she saw a series of letters, tied with a black ribbon. The letters were addressed to Edward, but the sender's name was always scribbled out.

"What does this mean?" Emilia asked, her voice barely audible.

Rachel's eyes met hers, a glimmer of understanding in their depths. "I think these letters hold the key to Edward's past," she whispered. "And maybe, just maybe, they'll reveal the truth about his biological parents."

The mystery was deepening, and Emilia's curiosity was piqued. What secrets did the letters hold, and how would they change everything?

Emilia's hands trembled as she untied the black ribbon and pulled out the letters. The paper was yellowed with age, and the handwriting was unfamiliar.

As she began to read, Emilia's eyes widened in shock. The letters revealed a dark family history, one of secrets and lies. Edward's biological parents, it seemed, were embroiled in a scandal that threatened to destroy their reputation.

Rachel's eyes scanned the letters, her face pale. "This is incredible," she whispered. "The Blackwood family's reputation is built on lies and deceit."

Emilia's mind reeled as she read on. The letters hinted at a tragedy, one that had been hidden for years. "What happened to Edward's biological parents?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

Rachel's eyes met hers, a somber expression on her face. "I think they're dead," she said, her voice low. "The letters suggest that they were murdered, and their deaths were covered up."

The revelation sent shockwaves through Emilia's mind. Murder? Cover-up? The more she learned, the more she realized that nothing was as it seemed.

As Emilia and Rachel finished reading the letters, the atmosphere in the room grew thick with unease. The revelation about Edward's biological parents' deaths sent a chill down Emilia's spine.

Suddenly, a creaking sound echoed through the hallway. Emilia's heart skipped a beat as she turned to Rachel. "Did you hear that?"

Rachel's eyes locked onto hers, a flicker of fear in their depths. "Yes, I did. Let's go check it out."

As they stepped into the hallway, Emilia felt a sinister presence lurking in the shadows. The air seemed to vibrate with tension, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that they were being watched.

They moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing through the silent hallway. The creaking sound grew louder, and Emilia's senses were on high alert.

As they turned a corner, they saw a door slightly ajar. Emilia's heart sank. "That wasn't open before," she whispered.

Rachel's eyes met hers, a determined glint in their depths. "Let's see what's inside."

The door creaked open, revealing a room that seemed frozen in time. Emilia's eyes scanned the space, and her gaze landed on a photograph.

The image depicted a family, smiling and happy. But one face stood out - Edward's biological mother. Emilia's heart skipped a beat as she realized the significance of the photograph.

As Emilia gazed at the photograph, she noticed something peculiar. A small inscription on the back read: "For my dearest, forever lost." The handwriting seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.

Rachel's eyes met hers, a curious expression on her face. "What does it mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Emilia's mind whirred as she turned the photograph over, searching for more clues. That's when she saw it - a faint message etched into the frame. "Look again at the past."

The message sent a shiver down Emilia's spine. What did it mean? And who could have written it?

As they continued to explore the room, Emilia couldn't shake off the feeling that they were getting close to uncovering a long-buried secret.

Suddenly, Rachel gasped, her eyes fixed on a small, leather-bound book on a nearby shelf. "This looks like Edward's mother's diary," she whispered.

Emilia's heart skipped a beat as Rachel opened the diary, revealing pages filled with handwritten notes. The entries spoke of a deep-seated fear, a sense of being watched, and a desperate attempt to protect her child.

As Emilia read the diary, she felt a sense of desperation emanating from the pages. Edward's mother had been terrified, convinced that someone was watching her and plotting against her family.

One entry stood out: "I've hidden the truth about our family's past, but I fear it's not enough. They're getting closer, and I don't know how much longer I can protect him."

Rachel's eyes met Emilia's, a look of determination on her face. "We have to find out what she's talking about," she whispered. "What truth was she hiding?"

Emilia nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. They needed to dig deeper, to uncover the secrets that Edward's mother had tried so hard to keep hidden.

As they continued to read the diary, they stumbled upon a cryptic message: "The truth lies with the portrait in the attic. But beware, it's not what it seems."

Emilia's heart pounded as she followed Rachel to the attic. The air was thick with dust, and cobwebs clung to the trunks and boxes. A single portrait hung on the wall, shrouded in shadows.

As they approached the portrait, Emilia felt a sense of unease. The subject's eyes seemed to follow her, piercing and intense.

Rachel gasped, her eyes fixed on the portrait. "This is Edward's family," she whispered. "But look at the background."

Emilia's gaze shifted, and she saw it - a hidden symbol etched into the wall behind the family. It looked like a mix of ancient runes and hieroglyphs.

Suddenly, the portrait seemed to shift, revealing a hidden compartment behind it. Inside, they found a letter addressed to Edward.

The letter revealed a shocking truth: Edward's family was part of an ancient society, one that had been hiding in plain sight for centuries. The symbol in the background was their mark, a sign of their allegiance.