Kara stood on the balcony, the cool night air swirling around her, biting at her skin like the bitter thoughts that wouldn't leave her mind. The city lights flickered far below her, a distant, cold reminder of how disconnected she had become from everything she once valued. She had everything a person could want—wealth, power, a family who had always tried to shelter her—but now, the very things that should have filled her with pride felt like shackles she couldn't escape.
Her father's kindness, his pity, it had always been there. She had pushed it away, rejected it because it reminded her of what she feared the most—that she was weak, that she wasn't enough to stand on her own. And tonight, that feeling was stronger than ever. She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms as she fought the rising tide of anger and self-loathing.
How did it all come to this?
She thought back to the events of the night—the way her so-called friends had cheered her on, egging her to humiliate the poor girl just to satisfy her need for validation. Each insult thrown, each laugh shared, only made Kara feel emptier. And yet, in the moment, she couldn't stop herself. She had wanted to feel powerful again, to feel like she was in control of something, anything.
But it was never enough.
The sound of footsteps on the marble floors below interrupted her thoughts. She knew it was Alden before she even turned around. He didn't need to say a word for Kara to sense the weight of his disappointment. He always knew when something was wrong, when she was spiraling.
"I told you, Kara," Alden's voice was calm but firm, the tone that always preceded a lecture. "You promised me you would try. You said you wanted to change."
Kara's body tensed, her back still turned toward him. She didn't want to face him, didn't want him to see the truth written all over her. But she couldn't help it. She spun around, her face twisted with frustration.
"I did try, okay? But you don't get it!" Her voice cracked, raw and full of emotion. "You see me as some broken thing that needs fixing, and I'm sick of it!"
Alden took a step forward, his eyes softening with concern. "No, Kara. I see you as my daughter. And I want you to find peace, to heal from all the pain you've been carrying. But you have to let go of the anger first."
She shook her head, her chest tightening as the words escaped her. "I can't. I don't know how to."
The silence between them stretched, thick with unspoken truths. Kara's heart pounded in her chest, her emotions a chaotic whirlwind of anger, fear, and sorrow. For the first time, she felt truly exposed, vulnerable.
Alden stepped closer, his voice gentle. "You're not alone in this, Kara. You don't have to do it by yourself."
But before Kara could respond, the door slammed open, cutting through the moment. It was one of the housekeepers, looking frantic.
"Mr. Alden, you need to come quickly—there's something wrong with Ethan. He's missing."
Kara froze, her blood running cold. Ethan? Missing?
Alden's face went pale. "What do you mean missing? Where is he?"
The housekeeper's breath was ragged, her words tumbling out in a panic. "He's gone, Mr. Alden. His room is empty, and no one has seen him for hours. He—he left a note."
Kara's heart dropped into her stomach. A note? What was going on? What had happened to her brother?
Without thinking, she bolted from the balcony, her footsteps pounding down the hall. Alden was right behind her, his voice calling her name, but she didn't stop. She couldn't. She had to find Ethan.
The tension in the house had shifted, a heavy, suffocating air settling over everything. The note was nowhere to be found, and no one had seen Ethan leave. Panic began to set in as the seconds ticked by, each one more excruciating than the last.
Kara found herself standing at Ethan's door, staring at the empty room, the unsettling silence pressing in around her. Where could he have gone? What was going on?
Just as she was about to turn and ask Alden what to do next, her phone buzzed in her pocket. The screen lit up with an unknown number.
She hesitated before answering.
"Hello?" Kara's voice was shaky.
"Hello, Kara," a cold voice on the other end said. "You're looking for your brother, aren't you? Well, I have him."
Kara's breath caught in her throat. "Who is this? What do you want?"
The voice chuckled, dark and menacing. "I think you know exactly what I want. And if you want Ethan back, you'll have to play by my rules."
The line went dead.
Kara's hand shook as she lowered the phone, her mind racing with a thousand questions. Who was this person? Why Ethan? What had she gotten herself into?
And more importantly—what had she done to deserve this?
Before she could process the situation further, Alden was at her side, his hand resting on her shoulder.
"Who was it?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
Kara looked up at him, her face pale and stricken with fear. "I don't know. But they have Ethan. And I have to find him—before it's too late."
The words hung in the air, and just as they were about to take action, the sound of the front door slamming open echoed through the hallway.
A shadow loomed at the entrance.
And all Kara could do was stare.
Who was standing there? What did they want from her?
The figure at the door stepped forward, casting a long, menacing shadow across the entryway. Kara's heart pounded in her chest as she squinted, trying to make out the details. The faint silhouette gave nothing away, only an ominous presence that sent a chill down her spine.
Alden moved instinctively in front of her, his protective stance blocking the path between Kara and the stranger.
"Who are you?" Alden's voice was firm, demanding an answer.
The figure paused, taking a long, deliberate moment before speaking in a low, gravelly voice that made Kara's skin crawl. "I think you know who I am."
Kara felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She recognized the voice. It was the same one from the phone call.
"I don't have time for games," she said, her voice wavering despite her attempt at bravado. "Where is Ethan?"
The figure stepped into the dim light, and Kara's breath hitched as she saw the person clearly for the first time. It was a man, wearing a long, dark coat, his face obscured by a hood. But it was his eyes—the cold, calculating look—that made Kara's blood run cold.