Unmasking the Heart

Joi sat up in bed, letting out a soft sigh as sunlight poured in through the windows. She grabbed her phone and scrolled through her playlist, settling on Laurence Spencer Smith's songs. The mellow tunes filled the room as she headed to the shower, letting the music accompany her thoughts.

After a refreshing shower, Joi reemerged, her damp hair cascading down her back. She dressed in a loose pair of baggy jeans and an oversized white top that gave her a casual, relaxed look. She tied her sneakers snugly and made her way to the kitchen, following the aroma of frying pancakes.

"Good morning, Joi," Mrs. Catlin greeted warmly as Joi stepped into the kitchen. She was at the stove, her hands expertly flipping a golden-brown pancake.

"Good morning, Mrs. Catlin," Joi replied with a soft smile, reaching for a glass and pouring herself some water.

"How was your night?" Mrs. Catlin asked, a hint of curiosity in her tone as she glanced back over her shoulder.

"It was better than my first night here," Joi admitted with a small laugh. "I'm finally starting to feel... less out of place."

Mrs. Catlin chuckled, her laughter warm and inviting. "Oh, it couldn't have been that bad," she teased as she plated the final pancake and turned off the stove.

"It wasn't," Joi replied, shaking her head. "It's just... this house has so much history. It's a lot to take in."

"Well, I can't argue with that," Mrs. Catlin said, her tone softening. She picked up the plate of pancakes and gestured toward the dining room. "Shall we?"

Joi followed her to the dining table, where they settled in to enjoy breakfast. As they ate, Joi found herself unable to resist the urge to ask about the mystery that had been on her mind since she arrived.

"Mrs. Catlin," she began hesitantly, "you've worked here for a long time, haven't you?"

Mrs. Catlin looked up from her plate, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Yes. Ever since Adrian's mother passed away—14 years ago, now."

Joi nodded, her curiosity growing. "Then you must know a lot about him. Like the lady in that picture I saw. Sophia, right?"

At the mention of Sophia, Mrs. Catlin froze, her fork hovering mid-air. Her eyes flickered with hesitation before she carefully set the fork down. "Sophia was Adrian's first love," she said softly, almost wistfully. Then, realizing how much she had said, she quickly added, "Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"No, it's okay," Joi reassured her, leaning forward slightly. "It's not a secret, is it? I mean, I've been wondering why Adrian seems so focused on finding her."

Mrs. Catlin sighed, her expression conflicted. After a moment, she said, "Sophia disappeared five years ago. Adrian has been looking for her ever since. He suspects... well, he thinks his father had something to do with it."

"Why would he think that?" Joi asked, her brows knitting together in confusion.

"Adrian's father is... complicated," Mrs. Catlin replied, choosing her words carefully. "He loved Sophia, but he wanted Adrian to marry Anna. He thought Anna was a better match and would strengthen the family's position."

Joi blinked, stunned. "So, Sophia just vanished? No warning, no trace?"

Mrs. Catlin nodded, her expression somber. "That's right. Ever since then, Adrian hasn't been the same. You're the first woman I've seen in this house since her disappearance."

Joi fell silent, the weight of the revelation settling over her. As they finished breakfast, she excused herself and stepped outside, craving the fresh air. Standing on the veranda, she gazed at the sprawling mansion, its grandeur now feeling cold and heavy.

"This was their house," she murmured to herself. "What happens if Sophia comes back? Will Adrian just... go back to her? Will I even matter?"

The thought left her unsettled. She wrapped her arms around herself, letting the breeze play with her hair as she tried to calm her swirling emotions.

---

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Anna paced restlessly in the living room.

"I don't know what's going on, Mom," she said, her voice trembling. "I sent someone to follow her, but she's vanished. What if Adrian is hiding her?"

"Anna, you're overthinking this," Mrs. Smith said with an exasperated sigh. "If Adrian's upset about the necklace, he'll deal with it himself. This isn't your problem."

Anna stopped pacing, turning to face her mother with wide, anxious eyes. "You don't get it, Mom. Adrian is interested in her. I can feel it."

Before Mrs. Smith could respond, the sound of the front door opening interrupted them. Mr. Smith entered, his posture weary from travel.

"How was your flight?" Mrs. Smith asked, rising from her seat to greet him.

"Stressful," he muttered, sinking into the couch.

Anna wasted no time, sitting beside him and clasping his hand. "Daddy, I need your help," she said, her voice sweet but urgent.

Mr. Smith frowned, tilting his head to look at her. "What is it, princess?"

"It's about Adrian," Anna began, her tone pitiful. "There's a woman he's been spending time with. I need to know who she is and where she's staying."

Mr. Smith's brows furrowed. "Adrian? Spending time with someone? That's unusual."

Anna nodded eagerly. "I've tried everything to win his attention, but now he's focused on someone else. I need to know who she is."

Mr. Smith sighed heavily but pulled out his phone. "Fine. I'll have someone track her down."

---

Later that day, Debbie arrived at Joi's house, settling into the living room with a brownie in hand.

"What's so urgent?" Joi asked, handing her a glass of orange juice.

Debbie grinned sheepishly. "My boss wants me to pick up his daughter from school, but... I'm terrible with kids. I was hoping you'd come with me."

Joi frowned, crossing her arms. "You know I'm not supposed to leave the house."

Debbie pouted. "Please, Joi? You're great with kids, and I'm desperate here."

After a moment's hesitation, Joi sighed. "Fine. But only this once."