The grand mansion was a hive of noise and tension.
Bodyguards stood in stiff rows as Parker grand tore into them with furious words, his voice booming off the marble walls.
"You were supposed to keep her safe!" Parker growled. "I trusted you with my daughter's life!"
The heavy oak doors swung open suddenly.
Uncle Scott walked in, his round belly bouncing slightly with each step, carrying a lopsided gift bag and a bright bouquet of flowers.
He paused, looking around with exaggerated confusion.
Chris, Annie's younger brother, brightened instantly.
"Uncle Scott's here!" Chris shouted, running over.
Scott bent down with a wide, warm smile and scooped Chris into a bear hug.
"What's all this? A surprise party?" Scott joked loudly, chuckling to himself.
Parker turned sharply, his eyes dark with anger but when he saw Scott, some of the edge in his face softened.
"Not now, Scott," Parker muttered, rubbing his temples.
Scott's face pulled into a frown of deep, theatrical concern.
"I heard Annie had a scare," he said, his voice dripping with sympathy. "I just came to wish her a happy early birthday. Poor thing's been through enough."
He gave Parker a heavy pat on the back, trying to seem supportive.
Annie stood halfway down the staircase, a blanket wrapped around her small shoulders.
She stared at Scott coldly, her face unreadable.
It wasn't because she suspected him of anything
No, Annie simply resented him for what he had done years ago:
Leaving his first wife, the aunt she loved dearly, to marry his mistress, a woman who had already borne him two children.
She hated him for that betrayal.
But never imagined he could be capable of something worse.
Scott met her gaze and gave a goofy wink, acting like nothing was wrong.
Annie turned away without responding.
Meanwhile, across the hall, Miles worked quickly at his laptop.
"They wiped the footage," he announced, fingers dancing across the keyboard, "but I got it back."
He hit a button and the CCTV footage flickered onto the big screen mounted above the fireplace.
The room grew silent.
Everyone watched as two masked figures a man and a woman crept silently into Annie's bedroom.
The footage showed them already covering Annie's face with a cloth.
She struggled weakly, kicking her legs.
The male figure tried to lift her toward the bed when suddenly footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Both strangers froze.
Then, like lightning, they bolted.
The male figure shoved the window open and slipped out into the darkness, followed quickly by the woman.
Just before the footage ended, the camera caught a glimpse of Madam Rose, the head chef, walking as she opened the door. She checked everywhere but didn't find anything she left .
The video ended with a sharp click.
Gasps echoed around the room.
Scott pressed a hand to his chest dramatically.
"Good Lord," he said. "Thank God someone came by when they did."
Parker nodded grimly.
No one not Parker, not Annie, not Chris even thought to doubt Uncle Scott.
To them, he was family.
Someone to lean on.
Someone to trust.
And Madam Rose?
Just a kind old woman, devoted to her kitchen, completely innocent.
The real enemies
were still hiding among them.
Later That Afternoon – Grand Family Mansion Private Study
The sunlight was thin and cold through the massive windows of Parker Grand's private study.
Parker sat behind his heavy oak desk, his hands steepled under his chin, staring blankly at the open laptop screen.
His mind raced with questions and no answers.
Across from him, Miles, the family's hacker and security expert, leaned forward.
"I can run deeper scans," Miles offered. "Cross-check everyone working here in the past six months. Look for anything off."
Parker nodded once, his jaw set.
"I want everything," Parker said quietly but firmly. "Every cleaner, every gardener, every kitchen hand. I want to know if even the laundry boy lied about his name."
Miles smiled slightly, sensing the storm behind Parker's calm exterior.
"You'll have it," Miles promised, tapping away on his tablet.
A knock came at the door.
Parker barked, "Enter."
Uncle Scott poked his head in, still carrying his now slightly-wilted bouquet of flowers.
"Didn't mean to interrupt," Scott said sheepishly. "Just thought I'd check if Annie was up for visitors yet. Thought I could cheer her up a little."
Parker forced a smile.
"Later, Scott," he said. "She's resting."
Scott nodded understandingly, tapping the flowers lightly against his palm.
"Poor kid," he murmured. "She's lucky to have you keeping her safe, Park."
And with that, Scott backed out, closing the door softly behind him his round belly brushing the edge of the frame.
Miles waited until Scott was gone, then muttered,
"Nice guy. A little too nice."
Parker gave him a warning look.
"Family," Parker said firmly. "End of discussion."
Miles shrugged and turned back to his work.
But in his gut, a quiet voice whispered that maybe the real danger wasn't in the staff... but closer.
Meanwhile, Upstairs:
Annie Grand sat curled up in the window seat of her bedroom, staring out into the vast gardens.
The house was still full of bodyguards.
She should have felt safe.
Instead, she feltwatched.
A prickling at the back of her neck.
Like eyes following her, even when no one was there.
The faces of the two masked strangers haunted her.
Someone inside the house had let them in.
Someone she passed every day maybe even smiled at.
Her heart clenched.
She hugged her knees tighter to her chest, willing herself to stay strong.
In two days, it would be her birthday.
A party was already being planned.
Family, friends, laughter, presents.
She was supposed to feel excited.
Instead, a dark, invisible cloud hung over the house.
And Annie had the sinking feeling that whatever had started last night
The house had finally quieted.
Guards roamed the grounds in lazy circles.
Inside, most of the lights were dimmed.
It looked peaceful from the outside almost normal.
In the music room, Annie Grand sat alone at the grand piano, letting her fingers drift over the keys without playing.
The notes in her head felt heavy, broken.
She wasn't scared exactly not tonight.
Just restless.
Like a dream she couldn't quite wake up from.
A soft knock came at the door frame.
It was Chris, her younger brother, holding a cup of tea in both hands.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
Annie managed a small smile. "Yeah. Just... can't sleep."
Chris nodded and sat beside her on the piano bench, offering the tea.
"We're safe," he said firmly, like a little soldier.
"Dad made sure."
Annie took the tea, feeling its warmth seep into her fingers.
She nodded, not wanting to scare him.
From the hallway, the low murmur of voices floated up Parker talking to Miles, deep and serious.
Annie leaned her head against Chris's shoulder.
She didn't tell him about the shadow she thought she saw earlier.
Maybe it was nothing.
Maybe it was just her mind playing tricks.
"Your birthday's coming soon," Chris said suddenly, brightening.
"I picked a gift for you. You're gonna love it."
Annie chuckled softly, a real laugh this time.
Can't wait.
Across the mansion, Uncle Scott walked slowly down the opposite hallway, hands in his pockets, humming an old tune under his breath.
He paused by one of the side doors the one that led to the back gardens.
His small, piggish eyes scanned the darkness beyond.
For a brief second, his lips curled into a smirk
a different man flashing behind the mask.
But when a passing guard nodded at him, Scott gave a clumsy wave and a grin, looking every bit the harmless, slightly silly uncle.
Inside the house, peace seemed to settle again.
For tonight.
Keep the night calm, not too tense.
Annie feels restless but safe enough to relax with Chris.
Parker and Miles are working quietly in the background.
Uncle Scott shows a tiny glimpse of his real evil side but hides it again immediately.
Hint that things are moving slowly but something dark is still coming.