Victoria Bella Volkov

It was the day I’d been waiting for—the day I would finally meet the Arlington family. The grand estate felt like something out of a storybook. Standing at the entrance with Grandpa by my side, I tried to steady my nerves. My heart raced, and I felt like I didn’t belong here, but Grandpa’s firm grip on my hand made me feel just a little less alone.

The sound of a car approaching broke through the quiet tension. They were finally here.

The black car rolled ...