Instead, Millie chose a new destination—a small town where no one knew her name, a place where she could rebuild her life. Yet, even as she settled into a semblance of normalcy, the mansion’s shadows lingered.

Occasionally, she would catch herself glancing over her shoulder, half expecting to see Andrew’s specter or Nina’s icy smile. But they never came. The only ghosts were the ones in her mind, their whispers growing fainter with each passing day.

Months later, she saw a news article online: Prominent Businessman Reported Missing. Andrew Winchester’s face stared back at her from the screen, his disappearance labeled a mystery. Nina and Cecelia were mentioned briefly but seemed to have vanished as well.

Millie closed the article and shut off the phone. She had her answers, even if the world never would.

In the quiet of her new home, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Freedom wasn’t as clean as she’d imagined, but it was hers.

The house, the family, the lies—they were all behind her now. But sometimes, late at night, she would wake to the faint sound of footsteps, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure if they came from her dreams or somewhere deeper.