The villa lay draped in an eerie silence, a stillness that felt almost palpable. It wasn’t the tranquil hush that blankets the countryside at twilight, nor was it the serene peace that accompanies a deep stretch of night. Instead, it was a heavy silence that pressed against her like a physical presence, concealing unspoken secrets in its shadows.

Mara found herself wide awake, her gaze fixed on the ornate plasterwork of the ceiling above. The gentle rhythm of rain tapping against the leaded ...