CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY TWO - HIDDEN AGENDAS

But when they tried to find Sebastian, they were met with locked doors and silence. Frustrated and exhausted, they returned to their rooms, vowing to address the issue in the morning. The next day dawned bright and clear, but the atmosphere in the mansion was anything but sunny. At breakfast, Natalia greeted them with a cold smile. "I hope you slept well. I'm afraid the staff can be a bit... clumsy sometimes. I do hope nothing of value was damaged." Mara opened her mouth to protest, but Clarissa squeezed her hand under the table, a silent warning to pick their battles. As the day progressed, it became clear that the previous night's incident was just the beginning. Mara and Clarissa found themselves constantly misdirected, given incorrect information about meal times, and subjected to a barrage of snide comments and "accidental" slights. "Oh, I'm so sorry," Felicity said with mock concern after "accidentally" spilling her tea on Mara's dress. "I'm sure we can find you something mor