Chapter 3 - The MedicineLily began complaining about headaches.
Then dizziness.
Then nightmares.
Their family doctor prescribed stronger medication.
“She is suffering from complicated grief,” he explained.
Noah didn't believe him.
Lily became sleepy almost all day.
Sometimes she forgot conversations she had only minutes earlier.
One afternoon, Noah found her sitting alone in the library.
“What happened?”
Lily looked frightened.
“I saw Mom.”
Noah froze.
“Where?”
“Behind the wall.”
She pointed toward an old bookcase.
“She was talking.”
“What did she say?”
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
“She said… ‘Don't let Vanessa find the key.’”
Noah felt his heart pound.
That night, he secretly searched the mansion.
He checked drawers.
Closets.
Attics.
Basements.
Nothing.
Then he noticed something.
Vanessa always locked one particular desk in the study.
A massive walnut desk that had belonged to their grandfather.
Noah had never seen her open it.
Until one evening, he saw her leave the room.
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The key remained in the lock.
For the first time, Noah wondered what Vanessa was hiding.
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