Under the heiress facade

Chapter 258

The ground before the bronze door was paved with concrete and adorned with a mosaic of black–and–white tiles forming the Wheel of the Year.

They had excavated such an ample space within the mountain and even installed a bronze door. She considered if it could have been a tomb or something else entirely.

Hera approached the ancient bronze door, its surface weathered with time. On either side, the guardians Michael and Gabriel were engraved, though their forms were obscured beneath a layer of dust.

In the center, a lock shaped like the letter “H” was covered in dust.

Below it, a T–shaped keyhole hinted that it could be unlocked with the correct key, though Hera knew it wouldn’t be so straightforward. Even with the correct key, a labyrinth lock would require precise alignment of internal mechanisms.

The challenge of deciphering such a secretive lock intrigued Hera, almost tempting her to attempt it then and there. But the timing wasn’t right. She needed to leave first

With her flashlight, she scanned the area and spotted what seemed like a hidden passage to her right. As she moved closer, her foot suddenly caught on something.

her foot to the side and shining her flashlight on the ground, Hera discovered a black

seemed oddly familiar. She picked it up and noticed its

recalled crafting a pair of black pearl earrings for Daphne when she was five. It was a Mother’s Day gift

her finger while drilling the hole for the pearl and had bled

hadn’t dared to tell Daphne and Lucas, but Bernard had come to her rescue as he helped her handle the injury and even finish

those earrings became their joint gift for Daphine.

Dapline used to wear those earrings with such joy. But after a business trip, Hera never saw her wearing them again.

Daphne about them, and Daphine had regretfully admitted to losing

fiddled with the black pearl earring and struggled to

that that Daphne had visited here

size of

for further investigation. Then, she tucked the