PROLOGUE

In the dimly lit chambers of a lavish mansion, hushed voices echoed off the ornate walls.

"Gabrielle, baby girl, Auntie is here," murmured Lady 1, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness.

"We came bearing different gifts: chocolates, dolls, and many pretty things," added Lady 2, her tone matching the false warmth of her companion.

"Come on now, they are all for you, I promise." But despite their coaxing, the little girl remained hidden, unresponsive to their calls.

"I wonder where that little brat is hiding," Lady 1 muttered irritably.

"We have searched this place high and low, and she's nowhere to be found.

" With a sneer, she added, "Like mother, like daughter, always causing trouble. I wish she had died with them; this issue would have been easier."

The Second Lady's voice dripped with venom as she spoke. "You think? He never even included any one of us in his will. What gave you the opinion he was ever going to allocate any of his properties to us?" Her disgust was palpable.

"The fool, after he met that witch, she poisoned his mind against us and made him turn his back on his family. She deserved what came upon her."

"What was Ian thinking when he included that stupid rule in his will? A stamp only the true heir holds, that unlocks the magical secrets, really? I wish I could choke him even in his death."

"Can you stop complaining? We just have to find his little brat, get the seal, and leave," snapped Lady 2, cutting through the tension.

"And where the hell is the little witch? We have been searching for over two hours now. Is there no other way to go about this, Evans?"

Evans, adjusting his now crooked tie, wiped the sweat from his face. "I thought we all agreed, this was the easier and fastest way to go about this? Just keep looking for her; there's no way she could have disappeared from this house unless she has been lying to us," he said, gesturing to the nanny who had connived with them in their act.

"Me? No way!" The nanny vehemently disagreed. "I put her to bed not long before I came to meet you. I made sure she was sleeping before I left."

"Then where could she have disappeared to? When I lay my hands on that little thing, I'm going to kill her."

"Not before we collect the seal; you can do that after. I don't mind at all. That would even be better because those little things grow fast. I heard she's really brilliant. To avoid her growing wings in the future and poking her nose in business that does not concern her, we will be doing her a favor by putting her to sleep.

"God, this is so frustrating. I am tired of this nonsense; I am leaving. The rest of you can stay here and keep looking for her because I am done," she said, turning and leaving angrily.

"I'm leaving too," Lady 2 declared. "The rest of you can camp here and wait for the kid. As for me, I can't stay in a small space like this; it's not conducive for me."

The youngest, who had been quiet all through, finally spoke up. "So it's the likes of us that are meant to do the job, then you guys take the spoil? That's very brilliant, Mark, grab your things; we are off," she said to her husband, who scrambled to obey her commands.

Meanwhile, little Gabby watched everything unfold through the CCTV video playing in the hidden underground room, known only to her and her parents.

Clutching her dolls tightly, tears silently streamed down her cheeks. Overhearing the conversations between her nanny and these people on the phone, she realized the danger she was in.

Known for her intelligence, she pieced together the ominous plans being made against her. Barely escaping into the underground room before they arrived, she listened as they spoke of her deceased parents, leaving her feeling utterly alone and vulnerable.

Exhausted and afraid, she drifted into a troubled sleep, clutching her doll to her chest.