Chapter 23 A Gift And A Mystery

• I clutched the note tightly in my hand, my pulse racing as I stepped out into the hallway. My eyes darted left and right, hoping to catch even a glimpse of whoever had left the note. But the hallway was empty, silent except for the faint sound of distant laughter from the party downstairs.
• I took a hesitant step forward, my bare feet making no sound on the plush carpet. My breathing was shallow as I tried to shake the feeling of someone watching me. My thoughts were a blur. Who left this? Could it be Jude? Or someone else?
• Before I could take another step, Theo’s mother appeared at the top of the staircase, her face lighting up as she saw me. “Mija, where are you off to?” she asked, her cheerful tone laced with curiosity. “I told you I have a second gift for you.”