Beyond the facade

With that, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door so hard the frame rattled. I stood there, trembling, my heart racing like a rabbit in a snare. "Don't be scared," Harrison murmured, his arms wrapping around me from behind. He pulled me tight against his bare chest, the warmth of his skin a stark contrast to the cold fury that had just filled the room. His voice was steady, a rock in the storm of emotions swirling inside me. The newspaper lay forgotten on the floor, the headline screaming at us from its crumpled pages. It was more than just about Adrianne's family cutting ties; it spoke of a web of deceit and betrayal that stretched far beyond the mansion walls. Rachel's words echoed in my mind: "There's more to this than you know." I bent down to pick up the newspaper, my legs shaking slightly. The room felt suddenly cold without Mr. Blackwood's oppressive presence. As I straightened, the paper rustled, I read through it, the words swimming before my eyes. Adrianne's family had