### Crimson Gardens at Night


    As the car slowly drove through the gates of the estate, two bodyguards waited downstairs. M ascended the stairs to the bedroom to find Adrian.


    The moment Adrian saw her, he dashed over with open arms.


    "Mom!"


    "Mm..."


    M''s mind was elsewhere. She hugged her son briefly, murmuring soothing words before making an excuse about packing up for a few days'' stay at the family estate. She suggested he y on his own for a bit.


    Adrian, not wanting to be left alone at home, agreed reluctantly.


    While Adrian was upied with his tablet, M pretended to be packing. In reality, she was searching for possible hiding spots for important documents. She went through almost the entire second floor, sparing not even Adrian''s room, except for the study.


    But there was nothing-no documents, no clues.


    "What are you looking for, Mom?" Adrian asked, ncing up curiously from his game.


    "Oh, I was just thinking about which toys to bring along to the estate," M replied, her train of thought interrupted.


    Instinctively, she reached out to touch the model shelf that stretched across one wall of the room, intending to take out a monster model.


    "Don''t touch that!"


    Adrian jumped up, shouting as he pushed her away with surprising force. "Mom, don''t mess with my models! What if you break them?"


    "Sorry, sorry, I forgot," M apologized quickly.


    She had momentarily forgotten how protective Adrian was over his collection, especially these game models. One touch and he would explode.


    Leaving Adrian''s room, her gaze turned towards the study.


    It was the only ce left unchecked.


    M had always suspected the study, but in this household, it was a forbidden zone for her, off-limits entirely.


    Lysander had even installed a digital lock with abination code, preventing her


    ess.


    But M knew she had to try. With a sigh, she approached the study door, lightly touching the glowing keypad.


    The lock could be opened by either a numerical code or fingerprint recognition.


    She tried Lysander''s birthday—no luck. Adrian''s birthday—also a failure. A series of dates and numbers she thought might be of significance to Lysander-all unsessful.


    Only one attempt remained.


    M bit her lip as she stared at the keypad. One more failure and the lock would be permanently engaged.


    "If only I had my phone," she sighed.


    Her phone was specially modified. With a simple data cable connection, the pre- installed software would have cracked the lock effortlessly.


    But on the night she was brought back, that phone, along with her documents, disappeared.


    The current phone, merely a basic model provided by Leonard, was limited to only the most rudimentary functions like making calls.


    M was stuck.


    As she puzzled over the keypad, Adrian''s voice suddenly broke the silence behind her. "Mom, what are you doing there?"


    Startled, she turned around, her hand reflexively pressing against the lock.


    There was a soft click.


    The door swung open, making M stumble back a few steps, staring in disbelief


    at the slowly opening study door.


    How could this be?


    Her fingerprint had unlocked the study?


    Her mind reeled. The absurdity of it all mmed into her like a tidal wave-her heart thundering so loudly it seemed ready to burst from her chest.


    How was this possible?


    She had no memory of her fingerprint ever being registered. Wasn''t the lock supposed to keep her out? Could it be a malfunction?


    Amidst her bewilderment, Harper''s voice suddenly rose from downstairs.