Echoes of Deception

The morning light filtered gently through the heavy drapes of the room Adrian had given me, casting golden beams across the luxurious bedding. 

I blinked awake, momentarily disoriented by the lights coming in from the window and resting all around me. 

The room was vast, far larger than anything I'd ever called mine, even my room in the Alfonzo mansion, with its high ceilings, intricate molding, and furnishings that spoke of old wealth and refined taste. 

I pushed back the soft duvet and swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet sinking into the thick carpet. 

Moving to the window, I pulled the curtains aside and gasped. 

The view outside was breathtaking. 

The Santoro estate stretched endlessly in every direction, a sprawling expanse of manicured gardens, sparkling fountains, and winding pathways. 

Beyond that, dense trees bordered the estate like a fortress, shielding it from the outside world.