Venus Landi sat at the back of the large, crowded lecture hall, her eyes barely focusing on the professor's slides. He was speaking about market strategies, but her mind was somewhere else entirely. It wasn't the first time that day that she found herself lost in thought.
She glanced at the clock. Fifteen more minutes of this, she thought, tapping her pen nervously against her notebook. She tried to remind herself that she should pay attention; after all, this was her final semester at the University of Monteclaire, and her future depended on graduating.
But no matter how hard she tried to concentrate, her thoughts kept drifting back to a small, neatly sealed envelope that had arrived this morning.
The handwriting on the envelope was unmistakable, her father's. Venus had been avoiding his calls for the past few days. After all, it was never good news when he reached out, especially when it came to the family estate and the past.
Venus's father, Matteo, had always been distant ever since her mother's death. When Venus was just seven years old, her mother had died giving birth to her younger brother, Banibi.
The tragedy had caused them to leave the Landi family estate behind and start a new life in the town. But no matter how hard they tried to build a life in town, Venus had always felt a strange emptiness, a feeling that the past was never far behind.
Her family had never talked much about the mansion or what had happened there. It was like it never existed. But the letter… The letter from Matteo was different. It had an air of urgency to it, something that made Venus feel a sudden sense of unease.
A loud cough broke through her thoughts, and Venus quickly returned her attention to the front of the class. Her professor, Mr. Carlson, gave her a brief, concerned look before continuing his lecture. Venus forced a smile and tried to pay attention, but the feeling of anticipation gnawed at her.
The day seemed to drag on. By the time the bell rang, Venus was ready to leave. She shoved her books into her bag, barely taking time to say goodbye to the few classmates who had stayed behind. She had to get home, and she needed to find out what was in that letter.
When Venus arrived home, the small, modest house she and her father shared seemed quiet. It was always quiet. Banibi's voice could be heard in the background, laughing at something on the TV. She smiled faintly, hoping the distraction would help her avoid the conversation she knew was coming.
She opened the door and walked into the living room, where her younger brother was sprawled on the couch, his eyes glued to the screen. At nineteen, Banibi had always been full of energy and mischief. Today was no different.
"Venus!" he called out with a grin, barely taking his eyes off the TV. "You're early. Everything good?"
Venus nodded, though her mind was still far away. "Yeah, just tired. How's everything with you?"
Banibi didn't answer right away, but his eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief. "Dad's in the kitchen," he said, finally glancing at her. "Looks like he's got something serious to say."
Venus's stomach tightened. She knew exactly what that meant. Matteo had never been one for casual chats. When he had something serious to discuss, it was never light.
"Thanks, Banibi," she said quietly, making her way to the kitchen.
As expected, her father was sitting at the table, a cup of coffee in front of him. He didn't look up when Venus entered, and for a moment, the silence between them felt heavy.
Matteo was a tall, broad man in his late forties, with dark hair that was starting to gray at the temples. The years had been hard on him. They had both changed since they left the estate, but it was clear that some things were still the same.
Venus hesitated before sitting across from him. "You wanted to talk?" she asked.
Matteo nodded slowly, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of his cup. He finally looked up at her, his gaze somber. "Venus, there's something we need to discuss," he said, his voice low. "It's about the estate."
Venus's heart skipped a beat. The estate. She had tried to forget it, tried to bury it deep inside her mind.
After her mother's death, leaving the Landi estate had been the only choice. But even now, years later, the memories lingered. The grand halls, the beautiful gardens, the family legacy, they all haunted her.
"What about it?" Venus asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Matteo paused for a moment, as if weighing his words. "I know we haven't talked about it much, but there's something from the past that's resurfaced. Something that's connected to your mother."
Venus felt her breath catch in her throat. "What is it?" she asked, though she had a sinking feeling in her stomach that she wasn't ready to hear the answer.
Matteo reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the envelope. Venus's eyes went wide. The family crest stamped on the front glinted in the light. "I found this today," he said, handing it to her. "It's from the estate lawyer. He wants to meet. There's something about your mother's… belongings. Something important."
Venus stared at the envelope in her hand, the weight of it making her fingers tremble slightly. "What's inside it?" she asked, though she didn't really want to know. She had always known that sooner or later, the past would come calling. But she wasn't ready.
Matteo leaned back in his chair, his expression troubled. "I don't know, but it's time, Venus. We can't keep running from it."
"Why now?" Venus asked quietly. "After all these years, why bring it up now?"
Matteo's gaze shifted toward the window, his eyes clouding with something Venus couldn't quite place. "Because," he said softly, "there's something I've kept from you. Something that your mother left behind."
Venus's pulse quickened. Her mother. The woman she barely remembered, the woman whose absence had shaped her entire life. What could there possibly be left for her mother to have left behind?
Before she could ask more, Banibi walked into the kitchen, sensing the heaviness of the conversation. "What's going on?" he asked, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
Matteo gave Venus a small, apologetic look before answering Banibi. "We're going back to the estate."
Venus's heart skipped again. "What do you mean, 'going back'?" she asked, her voice sharp.
"We need to go back," Matteo repeated. "The past is calling us, whether we like it or not."
That night, after dinner, Venus couldn't shake the feeling that everything in her life was about to change. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts swirling around in her mind. The letter. The estate. Her mother. The heirloom.
For so many years, Venus had tried to block out the memories. But now, it seemed like the past had come to find her. And whether she was ready or not, she would have to face it head-on.
Sleep didn't come easily that night. Venus tossed and turned, the weight of the letter pressing on her mind. She couldn't help but feel as though it was more than just a letter.
It was a sign, something that would force her to confront everything she had been running from.
The next morning, Venus couldn't wait any longer. She had to know what was inside that envelope. She found herself standing in her father's study, the letter in her hands, the family crest staring back at her.
Slowly, she opened it.
The first words she read were: "It's time to return to the Landi estate. The heirloom must be passed on." Venus sat at the edge of her bed, the letter still in her hands, her mind racing.
"The heirloom must be passed on." The words seemed to echo in her mind, growing louder with every thought that followed. She could feel the weight of them, like an invisible pressure settling in her chest.
What was the heirloom? Why had her father waited so long to mention it? And why now?
As she stared at the letter, Venus couldn't help but think about her mother, Rebecca Landi.
Her mother had been everything to her, the kind, gentle presence that had nurtured her through the toughest parts of her childhood. But what Venus hadn't known, or perhaps hadn't fully understood as a child, was how little Rebecca had been accepted by Matteo's family.
Rebecca's marriage to Matteo had been the source of tension and scandal among the Landi family.
From the start, no one had wanted Rebecca as part of the family. She wasn't from the prestigious background that the Landis held dear. She had come from a humble family, her father a merchant and her mother a seamstress.
Rebecca wasn't the right kind of woman for a man like Matteo, at least not according to his family. They saw her as an outsider, someone beneath them.
Venus could remember the coldness in their eyes every time they visited the estate, the way they would ignore Rebecca, speak in hushed tones whenever she entered a room, and how they never really accepted her as Matteo's wife.
Rebecca had tried to fit in, but the more she tried, the more the Landi's seemed to push her away. The constant disapproval from Matteo's family had taken its toll on her.
Venus often wondered how her mother had endured it all. Maybe she had hoped that once they had Venus, things would change. But things only seemed to worsen, especially after Rebecca had gotten pregnant with Banibi.
Venus's gaze shifted to the photo on her nightstand. It was one of the few pictures of her mother, a beautiful woman with long brown hair and soft green eyes, smiling in a sunlit garden at the Landi estate.
Venus could tell her mother had been happy in that moment, perhaps before she realized how deep the rift was between her and Matteo's family.
But that happiness was fleeting. Shortly after Banibi's birth, Rebecca's health had begun to deteriorate. Matteo had been by her side, but no one else from the Landi family had come to help. They had simply distanced themselves, not wanting to be involved in the mess of Rebecca's illness.
When Rebecca died, everything changed. Matteo's grief was overwhelming, but Venus knew it wasn't just because of the loss of his wife. It was because, deep down, Matteo knew that his family had never accepted Rebecca.
That guilt was something he had carried with him, and it had shaped his relationship with Venus. He had tried to shield her from the harsh realities of the Landi family, but the truth was, there had always been a shadow hanging over their family.
It was no wonder Matteo had decided to leave the Landi estate after Rebecca's death.
The mansion, which had once been their home, had become a prison for him. A place filled with bitter memories of a life that had never truly been accepted by the family he had been born into.
But now, Venus couldn't help but feel that all of that, everything they had left behind was about to catch up with them.
"Venus?"
Banibi's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She turned around, startled to find her brother standing in the doorway. His messy black hair was sticking out in all directions, and he was wearing his usual lazy grin. But there was something different in his eyes today. The curiosity was there, but it was mixed with something more serious.
"You alright?" Banibi asked, stepping into her room.
Venus nodded, folding the letter in half and placing it on her desk. "Yeah, just… thinking."
Banibi raised an eyebrow. "Thinking? You've been doing that a lot lately. Something on your mind?"
Venus hesitated for a moment before answering. "I think we might be going back to the estate soon."
Banibi frowned. "Back? Why? I thought we left that place behind for good."
"We did," Venus replied, her voice quiet. "But… It's complicated. There's something dad needs to deal with, and I think it has to do with Mom."
Banibi's expression shifted to one of concern. "Mom?" He paused, as if processing what Venus had just said. "I don't get it. What does the estate have to do with Mom now?"
Venus shrugged, trying to explain the weight she was feeling, even though she wasn't sure herself. "I'm not sure. But it seems like there's something important. Something connected to her."
Banibi stepped further into the room, his footsteps muffled against the carpet. "You're not going to like it, are you?"
Venus met his gaze. "No. I don't think I will."
Banibi stared at the letter on the desk for a moment before glancing back at Venus. "I thought we were done with all of that. Why go back now?"
Venus shook her head. "I don't know, Banibi. But whatever's waiting there, I have a feeling it's not something we can avoid."
Later that evening, as Venus lay awake in bed, she found herself thinking about the Landi estate once again.
The mansion, nestled on the edge of a sprawling estate with towering gates, had always felt like a place she couldn't quite grasp. It was beautiful and cold, standing proudly against the backdrop of the forest, with its ivy-covered walls and weathered windows. It had always felt like a world apart from everything else.
She remembered visiting the estate as a young girl, when her mother was still alive.
The grandness of it had always fascinated her, the endless corridors, the large rooms, and the family portraits that lined the walls. But despite its beauty, it was never a welcoming place. The Landis had made sure of that. Venus never felt like she truly belonged there.
It was a place of secrets, of whispered conversations behind closed doors. A place where her mother was always on the outside looking in.
Now, Venus was about to return to that same place, but this time, she wasn't just a child following her father's footsteps. She was a woman, and this time, she had questions.
The letter had raised more than just curiosity, it had raised fears. What was her mother hiding? What had been left behind?
But one thing was certain: Venus wasn't going to sit idly by this time. Whatever the heirloom was, whatever the family had kept from her, she would face it head-on. The past had a way of creeping back, but this time, Venus was ready to uncover the truth.
The next day, Venus couldn't shake the feeling of dread that hung over her as she prepared for the trip to the estate. Banibi had seemed anxious but was trying to hide it, while Matteo was quiet and distant, his mind clearly on the upcoming journey.
They packed the car with little conversation, but Venus could sense that both she and her father were preparing for something monumental. The road ahead seemed like a journey back in time, a return to the place that had haunted them for so many years.
As they drove, Venus couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. They were about to face the family's past, her mother's legacy and the mysterious heirloom that had been hidden away for so long.
The Landi estate loomed in the distance, its tall gates visible from a mile away. Venus's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't know what awaited them, but she knew one thing for sure: the Landi family's secrets would no longer stay buried.