Watching her parents unt their affection so tantly, Sophie quickly slipped away to the second floor.


    In the bedroom upstairs, a forest-green gown wrapped in a gift box immediately caught her eye. Sophie took out the dress and checked herself out in the mirror, grumbling, "It''s just a family gathering, why all the fuss?" But for her dad''s sake, she decided to go ahead and change into it.


    A little whileter, Sophie admired her reflection in the mirror, now dressed in the elegant gown. She looked just as lovely as ever, but even though it was the same face and body, Sophie felt like she could see another version of herself hiding inside.


    That other self seemed to be nudging her with a question only this ce could answer. Sophie approached the mirror, lightly touching its surface, and whispered, "I don''t know who you are, but this is my home, with my folks and the people I love. I don''t like your memories, but since I was a kid, my brother and parents taught me to help others. If there''s something you need to finish, I can help, but please, don''t harm my family, okay?"


    Sophie''s voice had a touch of mncholy. She felt different today, aware of another presence within her, whose memories kept messing with her actions. Apart from thinking of ghosts and spirits, she couldn''t figure out what else it could be. She just hoped the spirit inside her was kind and wouldn''t harm the ones she cared about.


    Night had fallen. Harold''s car was now parked outside the Costello mansion''s entrance. Sophie, arm in arm with her parents, walked inside. She curiously took in the Costello estate, realizing she''d never been here before.


    The grand hall of the mansion was spacious, and she noticed familiar faces from the four families had all arrived-except for Gordon. Frowning, Sophie asked, "Where''s my brother? Why isn''t he here?"


    "Strange, he should have been here


    by now," Harold said, ncing at his watch. They''d nned to meet at


    six, but there was still no sign of et


    him. " go check on him, don''t


    worry," Harold said, stepping outside with his phone.


    "Sophie,e on, let''s go say hello to your Uncle Charles," Damita motioned to Sophie. But Sophie firmly shook her head, saying, "I''ll wait for my brother first."


    Seeing her determination, Damita could only smile and say, "Alright, you wait here for Gordon, and your dad and I will go greet Uncle Charles." "Okay!"


    Once her parents left, Sophie ran to the front yard of the Costello estate to look around. The autumn night was chilly, and in her thin gown, she blew into her hands and rubbed them together for warmth. Harold was somewhere making calls, and Sophie craned her neck, looking for Gordon''s car, but it never showed up.


    Could it be... he''s noting? No way. Her parents ced so much importance on this gathering; how could her brother not show up? "You."


    A voice, steady yet slightly


    reproachful, suddenly sounded


    behind her. Startled, Sophie turned


    to see the man she''d run into earlier that day standing right behind her.