A Deal with the devil ( Tangled lies)

he vast halls of Thornfield Manor. Clara froze at the soun

avoid her or if he simply didn't care enough to acknowledge her presence. It had become a routine-she would spend her days trying to find meaning

ry corner, and Clara couldn't shake the gnawing sense that something was off. The hairs on the back of her neck stood o

t, pulling her from her thoug

ment, but curiosity wo

la

settling, the tone rough as if the person

e asked, her hear

pause. A shi

continued, cold and menacing. "And I k

tened. "What are you talking about?" she demanded,

ied, the word dripping with venom. "Max Thornfie

. "What do you know about him?" she

out the contract. I know about the truth behind the man you call your husband. But wh

e sense of what the stranger was saying. Was th

n?" she asked, h

ead. The sudden sil

er pulse hammering in her ears. She could barely process w

by invisible strings. Max had never been forthcoming with details about his life, about t

ne rang

breath caught in her throat as she saw the same

el

y. "You don't know what kind of man he

ain, the words coming out more

eaker. "You'll find out soon enough.

leaving Clara staring at the scree

y hiding something? And if so, what was it? She couldn't imagine the man she had been married to-i

ion pressing in on her, its walls closing in with each passing second. She ne

hoed from the direct

d. Was Max back? Or

ilings adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to mock her as she walked past. She stood at the b

shadow in

creaming at her to turn and run. But she couldn't.

he reached the threshold of the hallway, she hear

ight switch, but before she could flick

her blood r

man. Bu

obscured by the dim light. His eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment

naged to choke out, her

epped closer, his movements calculate

id, his voice rough and unsettling. "But it see

her mind spinning. She wanted to scream, to ca

d to shout, though she knew her voice w

you're safe here? You think you're safe with him? You're wrong. You

shallow, panic rising in h

into his jacket pocket. A chill ran down her spine as she

the key up in front of her face. "But don

eel and disappeared into the shadows, leavin

ove. Was this some kind of threat? What was Max i

what did

elt tighter now, suffocating her as she realized just how little she tru

. Something that wou

right in the c