Chapter 175

Bryce knocked on the door for what felt like an eternity, but received no answer. His stomach growled in protest. He glanced at the boiled cabbage on the table, disgust filling his eyes. Hunger, however, compelled him to eat. One plate wasn't enough, leaving him even more frustrated. "One day, I'll trample you two, and you'll be begging at my feet," he seethed, his anger erupting as he hurled the plate to the floor, shattering it. He then went to bed, his stomach still empty.

In the dead of night, he jolted awake, groggy and disoriented. He fumbled for his phone and saw it was midnight. Dragging himself out of bed, he muttered, "I'm starving." Hunger gnawed at him. He stumbled to the kitchen, finding the door unlocked. He proceeded downstairs, cheerfully, unaware that the first-floor living area was unusually dark; no moonlight filtered through the window.

Rummaging through the refrigerator, he searched for food. Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Ignoring it, he continued his search. Another tap, this time on the opposite shoulder, made him turn. "Who's there? Quit bugging me," he snapped, but no one was behind him. Confusion washed over him. "Must be losing my mind from hunger. It's just my imagination, right?" he mumbled.

He resumed his search, but another touch, this time on his back, sent shivers down his spine. Bryce spun around, but again, no one was there. "Who's playing games? Show yourself!" he cried, his voice trembling with fear. Memories of a similar childhood haunting flooded back—a ghost that had stroked his face, kicked him, and followed him when he woke at midnight. Terrified, he'd fled to the bathroom and collapsed on the floor. That ghost had been his childhood nightmare. Had it returned? "Is it you? Back to haunt me again? Can't you find someone else to bother?" he whispered to the silence.

With no response, the room felt oppressive; his breath was the only sound. Then, a hand grabbed his ankle, sending a shockwave of fear through him.

Elsewhere in the house, Elyse jolted awake at Bryce's bloodcurdling scream. "Something's wrong! What's happening?" she asked, turning to Jayden, only to find his side of the bed empty and cold. He seemed to still be in the study. Had he not returned to bed?

Panic rising, she wrapped herself in a shawl and hurried downstairs, finding several servants already gathered. As she started toward Jayden, she saw Bryce weeping, trembling, and repeating the word "ghost." Confused, Elyse asked, "Is he alright? Why is he speaking incoherently?"

Concerned, Elyse turned to Jayden, who explained, "He was so scared he wet his pants by the time I found him." Seeing Bryce's wet trousers and noticing the smell, Elyse took charge. "Driscoll, get someone to take Bryce to his room, change him, and call the family doctor. We need to make sure he's alright," she said, frowning as she made the arrangements.

As the servants led Bryce away, Elyse turned to Jayden. "Why were you still in the study? Why didn't you come back to bed?" Jayden took her hand, squeezing it gently. "Miss me? Let's go back to our room."

Blushing, Elyse playfully pushed him. "What's wrong with Bryce? How could he think there was a ghost in the house? I've never heard anything like this before." Jayden pulled her close, kissing her. "Forget about him. There are no such things as ghosts. It's just his imagination."

Before Elyse could reply, Jayden kissed her again and led her back to their room.

The next morning, Elyse found Bryce asleep on the sofa while two maids folded blankets. Confused, she asked Driscoll, "Did Bryce sleep here last night?" Exhausted, Driscoll replied, "Yes, he refused to go to his room. We had to make a bed for him here, and we all slept in the living room with the lights on."

...(The ellipses at the end remain as they are in the original text)