Chapter 1 - The Glittering FacadeThe Astor Estate glittered beneath a winter sky, its towering windows glowing like golden mirrors against the darkness. Inside, billionaires, senators, celebrities, and old-money families moved beneath crystal chandeliers while a string quartet played a graceful waltz.
Champagne flowed. Laughter echoed. Diamonds flashed.
But Anna, one of the estate's maids, felt something was wrong.
As she carried a silver tray through the crowded ballroom, an inexplicable chill crawled beneath her uniform. The Astor mansion was supposed to be a monument to success.
Tonight, it felt like a mausoleum.
She lowered her eyes and continued working.
Then she heard it.
A faint sound from somewhere beyond the ballroom.
Scratch.
Pause.
Scratch.
Anna stopped.
The music continued.
Nobody else seemed to notice.
May you like
But Anna did.
And something inside her told her not to ignore it.
