The inside of the car was wrapped in a dense silence, only broken by the gentle purring of the engine as Samuel drove through the streets illuminated by the lamplight. He occasionally cast furtive glances at Lily through the rearview mirror, observing her with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. She remained absorbed in her own thoughts, staring fixedly out the window as the nighttime cityscape swiftly passed before her eyes.

　　Upon arriving at the front of the mansion, ...