A sharp, double knock echoed against the heavy mahogany door of the penthouse suite.
Rein walked over and swung open the door , revealing the uniformed bellhop standing in the carpeted hallway.
Dressed in a crisp maroon vest and gold-trimmed cap, he beamed a polite, usual smile before wheeling the two heavy brass luggage trolleys across the threshold.
As he maneuvered the brass carts into the spacious entryway, his eyes discreetly swept across the lavish suite—the glass teardrop chandelier, the sweeping views of the city lights, and the broad, plush poster beds. He quietly marveled at the sheer wealth of the young women occupying the wing.
In his mind, he instantly assumed they had to be sisters from an exceptionally wealthy lineage—never mind the subtle differences in their facial features or skin tones, as he reasoned that high-society magnates often kept multiple wives or partners, resulting in large, blended families.
Fiona stepped away from the central couch, her sneakers pressing softly on the hardwood border as she approached the trolley. She unzipped the side pocket of her coat, pulled out two pristine hundred-dollar bills, and handed them directly to the bellhop without a second thought.
"Thank you. That's all," Fiona said smoothly.
The bellhop's eyes nearly bulged at the sight of the green bills. A massive, genuine grin plastered across his face, he bowed his head sharply.
"Thank you so much, ma'am! Enjoy your stay at the Huntington!" He wheeled the empty carts out into the hall and pulled the double doors shut behind him.
Once the latch clicked, the young ladies began stepping forward to retrieve their respective bags. Lira grabbed her heavy leather duffel,
" Never took you for a rich lady to give away two hundred bucks without batting an eye" she said looking towards Fiona while she and Claire rolled their hard-shell cases toward their chosen beds.
" A propina is necessary if one offers their sincere service without prejudice" she responded managing to drag her luggages towards her bed side.
The only exception was Holly, who casually sank deeper into the plush velvet sectional, resting her boots up on the low marble table.
"I'm not even bothered about unpacking," Holly announced, crossing her arms behind her head.
"I'll just go on a shopping run for fresh clothes down at the lower mall tomorrow. MACE handed us a black card with practically unlimited funds anyway. Might as well make full use of it."
"Talk about being rich, huh" Fiona couldn't help but think hearing the word unlimited funds.
While the others sorted their belongings, Rein stood quietly in the center of the room, her brow furrowed with lingering tension. She turned her gaze toward Claire, who was carefully placing her coat over a wooden hanger.
Rein walked over, stopping right beside her sister. "Claire... back at the clinic, Professor Julian told me to ask you about the morning logs. He said it would be better to hear it from a sibling. What was he talking about?"
The room instantly grew quiet. Fiona paused with her suitcase half-unzipped, and Lira looked up from her bag, her dark eyes shifting toward Claire.
Claire lowered her hands, a heavy, somber shadow sweeping across her features. She looked at Rein, letting out a slow, quiet breath.
"It's about the old network," Claire spoke, her voice dropping into a low, quiet cadence. "Oscar is dead. He was executed during a mission in France."
A heavy silence settled over the suite.
Fiona blinked, her expression blank with her mind in complete confusion. "Oscar? Who... who is Oscar?"
Lira didn't bother to make additional explanations. She simply closed her eyes and let out a long, weary sigh, resting her hand against her forehead as the grim reality of the older generation falling apart settled in.
Beside the sofa, Holly's vibrant mood vanished instantly, her shoulders slumping into a subdued, dark quiet as she stared down at the carpet.it was now she realized why crook had left so early and even avoided contact.
Rein, on the other hand, stood completely still. Strangely, no visible emotion of sadness was on her face—no tears, no shock, no tremor in her hands. The heavy numbness in her arm seemed to bleed into her expression, leaving her detached, as if her mind were processing the information on a distant thought.
"Is it related to Klaus?" Rein asked softly, her voice flat. "Did something happen to him too?"
Claire shook her head slowly, her eyes filled with regret. "I don't know, Rein. I wasn't told anything about Klaus. Just that Oscar's wasn't even able to get a proper cremation."
Rein let out a quiet sigh, the air leaving her lungs in a faint whisper. She didn't press further. Turning slightly, she sat down on the edge of the poster bed right beside Claire, staring blankly at the rain lashing against the high-rise window as the fog outside continued to get denser with the rain drizzling.