Chapter 2 - Inside The Grand Stone Mansion
The heavy bronze doors clicked shut behind us, locking with a secure mechanical precision that echoed through the vast, vaulted foyer.
Soft, warm lighting illuminated the marble floors, casting a comforting glow over the magnificent interior of my true home.
My mother, Alexis, sank gently into a plush velvet armchair, her tired eyes wide with astonishment as she took in the luxury around her.
“Taylor... is this really yours?” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she rubbed her aching knee.
“I bought it three years ago, Mom, right after my tech startup went public,” I replied, kneeling beside her to massage her swollen joints.
Donovan wandered over to a large indoor water feature, giggling happily as he watched the koi fish swim in the illuminated indoor pond.
For the first time in six years, the heavy suffocating weight of pretense lifted completely off my shoulders.
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I didn't have to hide my success, my wealth, or my independence anymore.
Across the street, through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, we could see the frantic silhouettes of Caden and Bonnie stumbling around in the dark.
