"THE SECRET IN THE LIBRARY"-Full Story
The sprawling suburban mansion of Arthur’s family was always shrouded in a suffocating, deathly silence. From the outside, it stood as a grand symbol of wealth and success, with its fortressed stone walls and a warm, golden glow radiating from the luxury windows. But only those living within those walls understood that the warmth was merely a flawless facade for a freezing, oppressive atmosphere where one had to learn to breathe softly.
That afternoon, a sudden summer storm hit the area. Distant thunder rumbled aggressively across the glass panes, signaling a violent emotional tempest that was about to crash down upon the household. Inside the grand library—a room wrapped in floor-to-ceiling oak bookshelves and the warm, rich scent of frankincense—six-year-old Lily was sitting quietly on an expensive leather sofa. In her tiny hands was a vibrant, colorful storybook titled "Friends of the Green Forest." It was a gift her father, Arthur, had proudly brought home just the night before. Lily’s innocent, wide eyes shone with pure delight. Her small fingers gently slid across the glossy pages, and she occasionally let out soft, sweet giggles.
From the dimly lit hallway leading into the library, footsteps began to echo. They were not rushed, but rather the rhythmic, sharp, and heavy clicks of high heels. Madeline—Lily’s mother—stepped into the room. She wore an elegant, cream-colored silk lounge set. Her long, dark hair flowed over her shoulders, framing a flawless, striking face. However, Madeline’s demeanor at this moment possessed absolutely none of a mother's gentleness. Her eyes were bloodshot, her lips pressed into a rigid, thin line, and her knuckles turned stark white as she clenched her fists.
Seeing her daughter deeply engrossed in the book, Madeline’s footsteps abruptly halted. Her gaze locked onto the storybook in the child's hands, and an invisible, lethal tension flared in her eyes. She accelerated her pace, marching directly toward the sofa. Without a single word of inquiry, without a hint of warning, she leaned down and snatched the book out of Lily’s hands with such brute force that the little girl almost tumbled forward off the couch.
Lily looked up at her mother, her small face filled with utter bewilderment. Before she could comprehend what was happening, her lips trembling to ask a question...
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A decisive, brutal, and deafening sound shattered the silence of the library. Using her trembling hands, fueled by an extreme surge of raw emotion, Madeline tore the storybook completely in half right before her daughter’s eyes. The colorful drawings of friendly animals and the bright pages were instantly ripped apart, fluttering down to the floor like withered petals.
Lily froze. Her entire body went rigid for a few seconds, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at the two torn halves of the book lying helplessly on the ground. Then, as a natural instinct of profound trauma, her fear and grievance exploded. The little girl gasped for air and wailed, her muffled cries quickly turning into ear-piercing, heartbroken screams. Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks, soaking her pristine white dress. Lily cried as if her entire safe world had just been brutally demolished by her own biological mother. She didn't dare touch Madeline; she could only clutch her own chest, her agonizing cries echoing through every corner of the massive mansion, permanently shattering the long-standing illusion of peace.
