The Mask of Ivory and Silk

Isabella Sterling glided down the hallway, her ivory satin gown whispering against the stone floor. She looked like a vision of domestic perfection—graceful, poised, and utterly untouchable.

She paused near the baroque painting, her eyes narrowing slightly. She reached out a manicured hand, her long, ruby-red fingernails brushing the bottom edge of the heavy golden frame to check if it sat flush against the brick.