Vanessa finally turned away and continued shouting orders at the decorators.
But inside Elena's mind, one thought repeated endlessly.
The archive room mattered.
Enough for Vanessa to warn people away from it.
Enough for it to remain locked for years.
Enough for secrets to still survive inside it.
And Elena had no intention of walking away now.
The mansion remained restless long into the night.
Workers moved from room to room carrying flower arrangements, polishing silver trays, and adjusting decorations for the charity event. Expensive chandeliers glowed warmly above the grand hall while classical music played softly from hidden speakers.
Everything looked elegant.
Perfect.
Like a family untouched by scandal.
Elena stood near the dining area quietly arranging crystal glasses onto a silver tray. Her expression remained calm, but her thoughts never stopped moving.
Archive.
West corridor.
Adrian's father.
The pieces were slowly beginning to connect.
"You missed one."
Elena looked up immediately.
Madam Martha pointed toward a glass near the edge of the tray.
"There's a fingerprint on it."
"I'm sorry."
Madam Martha sighed softly. "You've been distracted all evening."
Elena lowered her eyes politely.
"I'm just tired."
The older woman studied her face for a brief moment before speaking more gently.
"This house exhausts people quickly."
Elena almost smiled at the truth hidden inside those words.
Before she could answer, loud laughter suddenly echoed from the front entrance.
Several wealthy guests had already begun arriving earlier than expected.
Women dressed in expensive gowns stepped inside while businessmen in dark suits greeted each other loudly.
Vanessa instantly transformed.
The anger and cruelty from earlier disappeared beneath a bright elegant smile.
"My goodness, welcome!" she said warmly while embracing one of the women near the entrance.
Elena watched silently from the corner.
It was almost impressive.
The way Vanessa could change faces so easily.
One version for the public.
Another for the people trapped inside this mansion.
"Drinks," Madam Martha instructed quietly.
Elena nodded and lifted the silver tray carefully before moving through the hall.
The charity event officially began less than an hour later.
Soft music filled the ballroom while rich guests discussed business, politics, and luxury vacations beneath golden lights.
Everywhere Elena looked, wealth surrounded her.
Diamond necklaces.
Designer gowns.
Expensive watches.
Yet beneath all the beauty, she could still feel the ugliness hidden underneath.
As Elena passed through the crowd serving drinks, she overheard fragments of conversation everywhere.
"Vanessa always hosts the best events."
"The Cole family is truly respected."
"Such generosity."
Elena kept her face expressionless.
If only they knew the truth behind the polished smiles.
At the far side of the ballroom, Adrian stood speaking with several businessmen.
Unlike Vanessa, he did not smile much.
His expression remained calm and distant while discussing contracts and investments. Even surrounded by powerful people, he carried himself with quiet control.
Cold.
Professional.
Untouchable.
For a brief moment, Elena found herself studying him carefully.
It was strange.
He looked nothing like the stories her mother once described about his father.
Her mother used to speak about Adrian's father as a gentle man.
Kind.
Respectful.
Different from the others inside the Cole family.
But Adrian…
He seemed emotionally closed off from the entire world.
Almost like someone who stopped expecting happiness a long time ago.
"Elena."
She immediately looked away.
Madam Martha approached her quickly.
"Take these drinks upstairs to the private lounge. Some guests are waiting there."
"Yes, Madam Martha."
Elena accepted the tray and quietly headed upstairs again.
The second she reached the upper floor, the noise from the ballroom faded behind her.
The hallway became calmer.
Quieter.
The private lounge sat near the west side of the mansion.
As Elena walked carefully down the corridor, her eyes unconsciously drifted toward the direction of the old archive room again.
Still locked.
Still silent.
The tray in her hands suddenly felt heavier.
A dangerous thought slowly entered her mind.
Tonight might be the perfect opportunity.
The mansion was crowded.
Busy.
Distracted.
If she wanted to search the archive room, there might never be a better chance than this.
Elena slowly entered the private lounge and served the guests quietly.
Most barely acknowledged her existence.
To them, she was invisible.
Only a servant.
Only a maid.
And perhaps that was exactly what made her dangerous.
After serving the drinks, Elena stepped back into the hallway again.
Her heartbeat began slowing carefully.
Controlled.
Steady.
She looked around.
Empty.
No workers nearby.
No footsteps approaching.
Slowly, Elena walked toward the west corridor.
The farther she moved away from the ballroom, the darker the mansion became.
The sounds of laughter downstairs disappeared completely.
Only silence remained now.
When she finally reached the old archive door again, she stopped.
Her pulse quickened slightly.
Locked.
Elena glanced carefully around the corridor one last time before slipping her hand into her apron pocket.
The silver key.
She had taken it earlier before leaving the guest room.
Just in case.
Her fingers tightened around the cold metal.
This was dangerous.
If she got caught, everything could end immediately.
But after coming this far, she could not stop now.
Slowly, Elena inserted the key into the lock.
For one terrifying second, nothing happened.
Then—
Click.
The sound echoed softly through the silent hallway.
Elena's breathing slowed instantly.
It opened.
Her heart pounded harder as she carefully pushed the door inward.
Darkness greeted her first.
Cold air spilled from inside the room.
Elena stepped in cautiously and closed the door behind her.
The archive room smelled old.
Dusty.
Forgotten.
Moonlight slipped faintly through the tall windows, revealing shelves filled with boxes, files, and stacks of documents untouched for years.
Elena stared silently.
This was it.
Years of secrets hidden inside one room.
Slowly, she walked deeper inside.
Her fingers brushed across old folders covered in dust.
Property records.
Business files.
Legal agreements.
Her heartbeat became louder with every second.
Then suddenly—
A sound echoed behind her.
The archive door creaked open slightly.
Elena froze instantly.
Someone else was there.