Chapter 6

Tamara went straight to the Schmidt residence after leaving the hospital. Since the Schmidt family went bankrupt a year ago, this villa was the only remnant of the once-great Schmidt family. After Jerome passed away, no one had taken care of this villa, and weeds had overtaken the yard. Holding her breath, Tamara pushed the villa door open. Thankfully, the electricity hadn't been cut off yet. She clung to the cold doorframe and slowly stepped inside. The smell of mold lingered in the air, and the furniture in the living room remained exactly as it had been when her parents were still alive—only now, a thick layer of dust coated everything. The corner of the couch her parents often sat on still bore traces of Sarah's patchwork. Everything was so familiar, yet so foreign. She walked into the study. Jerome used to work here, and it was the room where she had often come to learn as a child. With trembling hands, she retrieved a fountain pen and a stack of yellowed writing paper from