Chapter 24. Betrayal
As soon as the maid uttered the word "trouble," Maria jumped to her feet, her curiosity instantly piqued. She didn’t waste a second questioning the maid further.
The urgency in her tone had already told Maria enough. Together, they hurried down to the main living room.
When Maria arrived, she found everyone already seated... Beta Gilbert, Victoria, and Bernard. Their faces were filled with worry, and it was clear that something wasn’t right.
"Please, everyone, take a seat," Beta Gilbert said in a calm but firm tone.
As everyone settled in, Maria’s eyes met Bernard’s for a brief moment. She quickly looked away. Something about the look in his eyes made her uncomfortable, like he was hiding something.
"I need to share something important," Beta Gilbert began, his voice slightly strained. "We received a letter... from an unknown source. And the content is disturbing. This person is a threat—to every single life under this roof."
Murmurs rose in the room, but Beta Gilbert raised a hand and continued.
"From today, no one is allowed to be outside this house past 6 p.m. This is a safety measure, at least until we figure out who our real enemies are."
The seriousness in his tone sent a wave of concern through the room. Once he was done, Beta Gilbert stood up and left with Victoria and the maids, leaving Maria and Bernard alone in the living room.
Maria remained seated for a few seconds, her thoughts racing. The letter had clearly shaken everyone... what could be in it? What kind of message could cause such a reaction from someone as composed as Beta Gilbert?
She got up slowly and walked over to Bernard, who appeared lost in thought, his eyes fixed on nothing in particular.