Chapter 3: The Secret Room.
Alan Reid's exploration of the manor progresses as he descends the creaking wooden staircase to the second floor, each step as if stepping on the keys of history, evoking dusty memories. The corridor was dim and long, and the faint flickering glow of the sconces reflected faded family portraits, and the eyes of the ancestors seemed to be silently watching him in the darkness.
He came to an old oak door, intricately carved and inlaid with traces of time. Alan gripped the doorknob tightly, feeling its cold, slightly damp touch, and a chill welled up in his heart. He hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and slowly pushed the door open.
The room was pitch black, with only moonlight streaming in through the cracks in the window lattices, creating a space full of dust and cobwebs. The room** was furnished with a heavy desk with yellowed letterheads and worn-out parchment scrolls scattered on the tabletop. Alan approached the desk and his gaze fell on a deliberately locked ancient book, the cover of which was badly worn, but he could still make out the words "Rhett's Family History".
His heart raced, and his fingers brushed over the table, trying to sense the past that was hidden beneath the dust. He realized that he was standing at the heart of the family's secrets, and a strong psychological activity of curiosity and tension stirred through him: "This room, this book, may be the key to unraveling the mystery of the family." ”
Outside the window, the sound of the wind shaking the leaves became clearer, as if echoing his inner fluctuations. Alan mustered up the courage to undo the ancient lock that symbolized the truth and step into the hidden history of the Red family.