The morning began with a strange unease. Amara woke to find the sun streaming through her window, but the usual warmth of the estate felt muted. She dressed quickly and made her way downstairs, where she found Arthur pacing in the study.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Arthur stopped, his face unusually tense. "There was an incident last night."
Amara's heart skipped a beat. "What kind of incident?"
"Someone tried to break into the estate," Arthur said. "The guards caught the intruder, but they refused to speak. Ethan's interrogating them now."
Ding!
New Task Unlocked: Investigate the Intrusion
Objective: Discover who sent the intruder and their motives.
Reward: 7000 Pampering Points + Rare Skill: Shadow of Insight (Improves perception and intuition).
Amara followed Arthur to the basement, where Ethan stood in a dimly lit room, his figure towering over a bound man seated in a chair. The intruder's face was bruised, his defiance flickering under Ethan's icy gaze.
Ethan turned slightly as Amara entered. "You shouldn't be here."
"I have a right to know what's going on," she said firmly, though her hands trembled.
Ethan sighed but didn't argue. Instead, he turned back to the intruder. "You have one chance to tell me who sent you. Otherwise, I'll ensure you regret staying silent."
The man sneered. "Do your worst. I won't talk."
Ethan's expression darkened, but before he could speak, Amara stepped forward. "Wait."
The intruder looked at her, his sneer faltering for a moment. Amara's voice was calm but sharp. "Do you really think the person who sent you cares about your life? If you think staying loyal will protect you, you're wrong."
The man hesitated, his gaze darting between Ethan and Amara. Finally, he muttered, "Cecilia."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "What did she order you to do?"
The intruder hesitated, then said, "She wanted me to plant evidence in your office—documents that would incriminate you in a new scandal."
Ding!
Task Update: Evidence Recovered
Progress: 50%.
"Where's the evidence?" Ethan demanded.
The man looked away. "I didn't bring it. She didn't trust me enough to hand it over until I succeeded."
Ethan motioned to Arthur. "Search him. See if he's lying."
As Arthur patted the man down, Amara stepped closer to Ethan, her voice low. "This is escalating too quickly. If Cecilia is willing to send people into the estate, what's next?"
"She's desperate," Ethan replied. "Desperation makes people reckless."
Arthur straightened, holding a small, concealed device. "A listening device," he said grimly. "He was probably recording everything."
Ding!
Task Update: Listening Device Found
Progress: 75%.
Ethan nodded. "Take him to the holding room. I'll decide what to do with him later."
As the intruder was dragged out, Ethan turned to Amara. "This changes everything. We need to act faster."
Amara frowned. "What's the next move?"
Ethan's eyes glinted with determination. "We'll expose Cecilia's corruption before she has a chance to recover. But first, we need to secure the estate."
Later that day, Ethan called a meeting with the estate's security team. They discussed increasing patrols, installing more advanced surveillance, and restricting access to sensitive areas.
Amara, though untrained in security matters, insisted on being involved. "If this is about us, I need to understand how to protect myself."
Ethan glanced at her, a mix of admiration and concern in his eyes. "You're braver than you realize," he said softly.
She smiled faintly. "I don't feel brave. But I'm not going to hide."
Ding!
Task Complete: Investigate the Intrusion
Reward: 7000 Pampering Points + Rare Skill: Shadow of Insight (Improves perception and intuition).
Amara's Emotional Update: Determined and Focused
Current Mood: Resolved.
Reward: 3000 Pampering Points.
As night fell, Ethan and Amara found themselves in the study, reviewing the latest updates from Arthur and the PR team.
Ethan leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "We need to accelerate our plan. The longer we wait, the more dangerous Cecilia becomes."
Amara nodded. "Then let's do it. Whatever it takes, we'll end this."
Ethan's lips curled into a rare smile. "That's my wife."
Her cheeks flushed, but she met his gaze squarely. "And don't you forget it."
End of Chapter 32