CHAPTER 57

The villa was enclosed by walls on three sides, with a grand, wrought-iron gate at the front. Beyond the gate stretched a nearly 70-foot-long stone path leading straight to a beautiful two-story building. To the left of the path was a garage, while to the right stood a two-story annex. In front of the annex stood a graceful magnolia tree in full bloom, its pure white flowers and soft fragrance uplifting to all who were in its presence. Everyone looked at the villa with admiration, their eyes reflecting their awe.

Carla entered the code on the iron gate's keypad and led the Carter family inside.

"The garage can accommodate four or five small cars," she said. "The building on the right is the annex, roughly a thousand square feet. It has four rooms upstairs and two rooms downstairs, typically used by the butler, tutors, chauffeurs, and servants. There is a corridor connecting the annex and the main house, which makes it convenient to move around in bad weather."