Chapter 11 The Disappearing Journal
+8 Pearls
Lilith felt a bit drained, but sleep was the last thing on her mind. She opened the drawer beneath her desk and pulled out a journal, placing it on top of the pile with a small sigh.
She had always kept a journal. Since she was young, she had written down anything that felt important or even remotely joyful. Although those moments of happiness were rare, and the awkward or frustrating ones were much more common, she believed every experience had its own meaning and reason for occurring.
Writing down the good moments had always been Lilith’s way of comforting herself–so that whenever she looked back, she could relive them. As for the bad experiences, she preferred to forget them quickly. If she didn’t, they would take root in her heart and grow, becoming a silent burden. That was why she made it a point to skim over the painful memories, not allowing them to settle.
But as she opened the journal now, it was completely empty–nothing but blank pages.
Confusion crept into her mind. She knelt down and began sifting through the other notebooks in her desk drawer but found nothing that helped.
The only one she came across was from her younger years, probably from kindergarten. The writing was messy and childlike, with simple entries like, “The teacher praised me today,” “I got a few little red flowers,” “I ate a few plates of spaghetti,” “I finished a craft on my own,” and “I made a new friend and said something to them.”
That was all. Nothing more.
Lilith moved on to search the other drawers and even the bookshelf but came up empty–handed. Besides a few old books and some notes she had saved, everything she had written seemed to have completely disappeared.
No one could have come into her room and taken them. Still, there was a nagging feeling of doubt, or perhaps hope. She called out to Winifred.
“Winifred, have you seen my journals? Did you clean them up for me?”
The answer was clearly no. Lilith pressed further, “Has anyone else been in my room?”
The chances were slim. Lilith knew that aside from Winifred, Joe, and Lewis, no one else would have entered the villa.
The desk and cabinets didn’t show any signs of being disturbed by anyone else.
No one cared about her–or her journals.
As expected, Winifred responded with a firm no. She looked at Lilith with a mixture of respect and concern. “No, Ms. Jones, no one but you and I has entered your room.”
She hesitated for a moment before gently adding, “Ms. Jones, could it be that you’re missing Mr. and Mrs. Jones? Would you like to visit them?”
Lilith shook her head as she sat on the bed. Winifred, misunderstanding, assumed Lilith was feeling the lack of parental affection and quietly left her to her thoughts. Lilith sighed deeply, feeling a pang of disappointment.
She couldn’t help but feel like she had squandered her second chance at life. It seemed she couldn’t change her future, and now even parts of her past had been wiped away.
But then she reminded herself that her past memories weren’t exactly pleasant to begin with. Her gaze drifted to the brightly painted angel figurine on the shelf. Its colorful eyes seemed to be watching her, almost as if it were silently observing her thoughts.
Maybe the disappearance of her journals wasn’t such a terrible thing.
Fate was something beyond her control, and she chose to let it go. If it led to death, so be it–there was nothing left to fear.
With a sense of calm, almost philosophical acceptance, Lilith pulled the blanket over herself and nestled into the center of the bed, letting sleep claim her as she drifted into a peaceful, quiet slumber.
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Chapter 11 The Disappearing Journal
+8 Pearls
The following morning, Lilith awoke to find it was already 9:00 AM. She had slept for over ten hours, and for once, there were no unsettling dreams to disturb her rest. It was a rare and almost blissful moment, one she cherished.
Though it was October, the midday heat still clung to the air, stifling and oppressive. Not wanting to stay too long in the cool, air–conditioned room, Lilith decided to step outside for a walk. Fortunately, the area behind the villa was surrounded by towering trees and dense forests, offering plenty of shade, especially during the summer months. The forest was also teeming with various animals, a sight that never failed to catch her attention.
Maintaining the animals and the land came at a hefty price–costs that most people could never fathom. But for the Joneses, it was little more than a trivial expense.
Lilith found a peaceful pavilion to rest in and enjoy the refreshing breeze. Above her, the vast forest stretched endlessly, and in the distance, a well–kept pasture lay under the sun. A soft wind rustled through the leaves, and Lilith walked aimlessly, pausing every so often to take in the serene surroundings.
As she wandered, she spotted a trainer leading Simba, the lion, toward her. It dawned on her that either Hadden or Winona must be nearby.
When Hadden turned 18, Adrian had given him a lion, bred specifically for him. Simba was a creature of incredible strength jand beauty, his teeth and claws sharp, yet Hadden had raised him from a cub, and he had grown to be gentle and affectionate
with Hadden.
For Winona’s ninth birthday, Adrian had gifted her a purebred Hunavian horse, a breed of warmblood known for its strength. The horse had its own groom, and Winona often visited, bringing it high–quality hay and enjoying leisurely rides across the expansive fields.
Despite her young age and calm nature, Winona never seemed interested in training the horse herself.
Instead, she spent time with Simba, visiting him regularly; over time, the lion became as docile with her as a house cat.
Alexis, in contrast, had a Ragdoll cat that was just as loving as she was. The cat’s deep blue eyes were mesmerizing, like an endless ocean, drawing in anyone who gazed into them.
Garrick, on the other hand, had little interest in animals. His rebellious, fiery spirit was more suited to the world of conquest. His favorite places were filled with bloodshed and chaos. As a teenager, Adrian had taken him on a hunting trip across the Fricarian savannah, gifting him a custom rifle engraved with his initials. Garrick’s life seemed to embody the untamed wilds, full of freedom and the scent of blood.
Lilith, however, had never found solace in animals. As a child, she had once found a tiny dog on a cold, rainy night, shivering and weak. Despite nursing it back to health, it died a month later, unable to survive the illness that claimed it.
After that, Lilith never kept another pet.
While others seemed to carve their lives with purpose and clear direction, Lilith often felt like a lump of clay, molded by forces beyond her control, with no real choice of her own.
Her life was dictated by fate, and she had no say in its shaping.
Caught up in these thoughts, she started wondering whether to return to the villa or continue her walk when she was interrupted by Hadden, who suddenly appeared in front of her. He moved swiftly, taking Simba from the keeper’s hands, and the two of them made their way leisurely across the field.
Hadden’s gloves, worn and specialized, suggested he had been spending time with the animals, perhaps finishing up with another one before coming over.
Lilith quietly moved away, settling on a patch of grass some distance from them. The sun had warmed the field, making the grass prickly and uncomfortable, but the breeze that followed brought a much–needed sense of relief.
From afar, Lilith noticed a figure approaching, and as it drew closer, she recognized Winona.
