Chapter 4

Leo came to visit a few days later.

My heart ached to see him, to warn him.

He bounded in, full of energy, an art project tucked under his arm.

"Ellie! Julian! Guess what Professor Davies said about my new sculpture?"

Isabelle, as "Ellie," turned from the window, her smile strained.

"Oh, Leo. Hello," she said, her voice cool, almost dismissive.

Leo' s cheerful expression faltered.

I always rushed to hug him, to ask about his classes, his life.

"Is everything okay, Ellie?" Leo asked, looking from her to Julian.

"She's just a bit tired, Leo," Julian said, stepping forward, placing a hand on Leo's shoulder. "Show me what you've got."

Julian's intervention was smooth, but the damage was done.

Isabelle barely glanced at Leo's work, offering a curt, "Very... creative."

Leo looked hurt, confused.

The deep affection Ellie always showed her brother was completely missing.

Later, Isabelle complained of feeling unwell.

It was a ploy, I knew, to explain any oddities Julian might be questioning.

Julian insisted she see Dr. Matthews, our family doctor.

During the check-up, Dr. Matthews listened to her heart.

He frowned. "That's unusual, Ellie. Your pulse is very faint, almost undetectable."

Isabelle laughed it off, a brittle sound.

"Oh, that. It's just my recurring anemic condition flaring up. I get it sometimes."

Dr. Matthews looked skeptical. "Anemic? I don't recall that in your history, Ellie. We should run some tests."

"No, no, it's fine. I just need to rest," Isabelle insisted, quickly ending the appointment.

Back home, Julian was quiet, thoughtful.

I knew he remembered my actual medical history. I wasn't anemic. I never had been.

His suspicions were no longer just fleeting doubts.

They were hardening into a terrible certainty.

He started spending more time in his study, poring over the Thorne manuscript, but also other, older books.

He was searching for something, an explanation for the impossible.

He knew the woman in his house was not his wife.

He just didn't know what she was.