Chapter 126: The Sanctuary

After making all the necessary arrangements, Livia and Elise set off with a few guards to Adrian's workplace. The morning sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled patterns on the car's surface. A gentle breeze carried the crisp scent of dawn, adding a refreshing touch to the air.

When they arrived, Adrian was engrossed in reviewing documents. He looked up in surprise upon seeing them, but his astonishment quickly gave way to delight.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, striding toward them, his tone betraying his unconcealed joy.

Elise smiled warmly. "We brought you breakfast. We figured you'd get too busy and forget to eat."

Adrian blinked before ruffling Elise's hair in affectionate exasperation. "You two really…"

He reached for Elise's hand and held it gently, his gaze softening as he looked at her. Elise squeezed his fingers lightly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush, but she did not pull away.

Livia, standing to the side, watched their exchange with a slight smile before lowering her voice. "Adrian, I have something to discuss with you."

Seeing the seriousness in her expression, Adrian quickly collected himself and gave a small nod.

Livia stepped closer and spoke in a hushed tone. "I need to go to that place."

A flicker of recognition crossed Adrian's eyes. He hesitated for a moment, glancing at Elise, then scanning their surroundings before lowering his voice. "It's nearby. I'll make arrangements, and we'll go together."

Without delay, Adrian reassigned his work to a subordinate and led Livia and Elise to their destination.

They passed through a narrow alley and arrived at an isolated corner on the outskirts of the city. Before them stood an abandoned warehouse—its exterior weathered, its walls marked with the passage of time.

"This is the place?" Elise asked, frowning as she studied the seemingly ordinary structure.

Adrian nodded. "It looks like nothing special, but when Elise and I were here before, something about it felt… off."

Livia remained silent, carefully surveying her surroundings.

The warehouse door was slightly ajar, revealing a dimly lit interior thick with the scent of dust. Scattered wooden crates lay broken across the floor, and tattered fabric draped over rusted beams. In one corner stood an old, rickety bed, its frame splintered on one side, further emphasizing the place's state of decay.

Livia approached the bed and pressed down on it lightly, feeling its loose structure. A suspicion formed in her mind, and she turned to Adrian, signaling for his help.

Adrian immediately understood and moved to assist her.

Together, they shifted the bed aside, uncovering a hidden iron door beneath it.

"There was a door under here?" Livia gasped, eyes widening in surprise.

She reached out and tested it. The door wasn't locked. Taking a deep breath, she cautiously pulled it open.

Beyond the door lay a narrow staircase leading downward, vanishing into darkness.

The three exchanged glances before stepping down cautiously.

A faint dampness hung in the air as they descended, but it wasn't suffocating. Livia quickly noticed small ventilation holes in the walls, allowing fresh air to seep in, preventing complete stagnation.

The underground chamber was small, with stone floors and minimal furnishings—just a wooden table, a few chairs, and a dusty cabinet in the corner. Though covered in grime, the furniture remained intact, suggesting that someone had once used this space.

Livia's gaze darkened as she surveyed the room.

"What is this place?" Elise murmured.

Adrian's voice was steady as he replied, "From its layout, it seems to be a secret hideout. But whether it was meant as a refuge or something else, I'm not sure."

Livia didn't answer immediately. Running a finger across the dusty tabletop, she contemplated the possibilities.

She turned back to Adrian, her expression unreadable.

"Don't tell anyone about this for now."

Adrian studied the underground chamber before nodding slowly. "Until today, only Elise and I knew about it. I've always felt something was off about this warehouse."

Livia waited for him to elaborate.

Adrian exhaled and continued, "I stumbled across this place by chance. At first, I didn't think much of it, but the moment I stepped inside, I had this strange feeling… like something was drawing me to explore further."

He walked back to where the bed had been, pressing his foot against the ground thoughtfully.

"I checked around and realized the floor felt… different. There was a tattered carpet covering the bed, hiding the space beneath it. If not for that odd feeling, I wouldn't have thought to lift it."

He crouched down, mimicking his previous discovery of the trapdoor.

"When I moved the bed and pulled back the carpet, I found this hidden entrance."

Livia frowned, her gaze fixed on the underground passage. A quiet unease settled over her. "Did you still feel that strange sensation after entering?"

Adrian shook his head, his brows furrowing slightly. "No. The moment I stepped inside, it vanished."

Elise, growing uneasy, glanced around. "Do you think this was a hiding place for someone?"

Adrian nodded. "It seems designed for concealment. It's well-ventilated, hard to detect, and furnished just enough for someone to stay here for a while."

His expression grew serious. "That's why I wanted to investigate further—to find out who built this place and why."

Livia listened quietly, tapping her fingers against the tabletop as she pondered the implications.

Adrian added, "But one thing's certain—this place is secure. When Elise and I hid here, no one found us."

Elise shivered slightly, then sighed in relief. "If you hadn't discovered this, we wouldn't have had a safe place to hide."

Livia didn't respond. She merely gazed at the chamber, her eyes dark with thought.

This place… it was more than just a sanctuary.