Secrets of the Past

The dim light from the lamp cast long, flickering shadows across the room as Olivia stood by the window, arms folded tightly. Outside, Verdonia’s streets pulsed with the hum of city life, but inside, the silence was thick, oppressive. Anastasia sat next to Maximilian, both watching Olivia, the weight of her revelation hanging between them like a dark cloud, suffocating in its intensity.

"Our parents..." Olivia began, her voice low and firm, though something fragile lurked beneath the surface, "They weren’t the people we thought they were."

Maximilian’s brow furrowed, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the arm of his chair. A storm brewed in his eyes, but his voice remained steady. "What do you mean? They were—"