Lilah had heard whispers of some significant event that prompted the family's move to Rivendell, but the specifics were shrouded in mystery, often discussed in hushed, solemn tones.

"It's strange how much I've missed this place. It seems frozen in time," Walter mused, lounging on the sofa and taking in the familiar surroundings.

Laura nodded, her voice soft. "My parents don't live here anymore, so nothing has really changed."

She then turned to Lilah. "We have a collection of jewelry upstairs.

Would you like to see it?"

“sure,” Lilah replied, skeptical of Laura's motives yet curious about what she might be planning.

Jerrold trailed behind Lilah as they ascended to the second floor.

The collection room was a treasure trove of antiques and jewelry.

Lilah, no stranger to exquisite pieces, felt a renewed sense of the Rhodes family's influence as her eyes sparkled at the sight. “These pieces must be worth a fortune. They look Like they've been untouched for ages. Aren't you concerned about keeping such valuable items here?" she inquired, examining the jewelry.

Laura revealed, "These all belonged to my aunt-my mother's sister."

Lilah's brow creased in confusion. As far as she knew, the Rhodes family had only one daughter—Laura's mother, Tracy. Because Tracy was the sole heir, the family had a son-in-law who joined their family, and Laura had taken her mother's surname.

Laura didn't delve into the details. "My aunt is no longer with us, so no one has moved the jewelry since."

“I see," Lilah replied. Since Laura's aunt had passed away, she chose not to probe further.

The antiques and jewelry alone painted a picture of Laura's aunt as a person of refined taste and wealth. It was clear that she collected items of significant historical value, some even acquired from overseas. How she managed to obtain them was a mystery to Lilah.

Jerrold, quietly following Lilah, seemed captivated by the collection as well.

Lost in thought, Lilah hadn't noticed when Laura slipped away. The call for lunch from downstairs snapped her back to reality, and she ushered Jerrold to leave the room. But as they descended the stairs, an unexpected incident occurred.

"Ah!" Jerrold suddenly lost his footing, tumbling downward.

Lilah's instincts kicked in as she witnessed Jerrold's fall. She swiftly caught him, cushioning his impact.

The commotion on the staircase drew everyone's attention.

"Jerrold?" Gerard's voice was laced with concern as he rushed over, finding Lilah examining Jerrold for injuries.

Jerrold, his young skin easily marked, had a noticeable cut from the sharp edge of a step. Yet, he bravely held back his tears, showing remarkable restraint for his age.

“Good heavens! What happened? Someone call a doctor," Laura exclaimed, her hand covering her mouth in shock. Her eyes, however, betrayed a flicker of doubt. "But our stairs are designed to be non slip. It's unusual for someone to fall like this."

She cast a sideways glance at Gerard, wondering how he would react.

No matter how he felt about Jerrold's mother, Gerard couldn't be indifferent to his son's injury.