The party was still lively when Grandpa leaned toward me, his voice low but steady. "Carmen, come with me for a moment," he said, his expression unreadable.
"Now?" I asked, slightly caught off guard.
"Yes, now," he replied, already rising from his seat.
I exchanged a glance with Elena, who gave me a small nod of encouragement. "Go," she mouthed, smiling softly.
Reluctantly, I stood, following Grandpa as he led the way through the house. The noise from the party faded as we moved farther from the dining hall and deeper into the quieter parts of the estate. He guided me to his office—a room I hadn't been in for quite some time.
The moment we stepped inside, a wave of nostalgia hit me. The office smelled of leather and aged paper, the bookshelves packed with titles ranging from ancient texts to modern business guides.