Chapter 5 - Whispers in the Corridor
Life within the Russo estate resumed its rigorous routine, but the dynamic had fundamentally shifted. To the other staff members, Clara was no longer just another transient maid; she was the girl who had caught the ghost king's eye. Whispers echoed through the servants' quarters—some filled with envy, others with fear.
Clara tried to maintain her focus. She cleaned the east wing with meticulous precision, ensuring every surface gleamed and every artifact was polished to perfection. Yet, her mind constantly drifted back to Dominic.
One evening, while polishing the silver candelabras in the grand hallway, she heard heavy footsteps approaching from the library.
It was Noah, accompanied by a man she recognized as one of Dominic’s senior capos, Viktor. They were speaking in low, urgent tones.
"...the shipment from the docks was intercepted," Viktor muttered. "Someone inside the organization leaked the route to the federal task force."
Noah stopped walking, his face hardening into a dangerous mask.
"Find out who. The boss is already dealing with internal security audits. If we have a rat, I want their name before midnight."
Clara froze behind her polishing cloth. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She knew too much again. In this world, knowing too much was a death sentence.
As Noah turned the corner and spotted her, Clara quickly dropped her eyes, scrubbing frantically at the silver base.
Noah paused, watching her for a long, agonizing moment. The silence stretched until Clara felt cold sweat beads forming on the back of her neck.
May you like
"Keep cleaning, Clara," Noah said flatly, continuing down the hall.
When their footsteps faded, Clara let out a shaky breath. She realized then that safety in this house was an illusion. The danger wasn't just outside the gates; it was rotting from the inside out.
