Carl's house was nothing short of magnificent.
It wasn't just a house—it was a smart home, a statement of wealth and elegance fused with military precision. The moment we stepped through the front door, recessed lights blinked awake, illuminating cream-colored marble floors that gleamed like ice. A delicate scent of cedarwood and something faintly citrusy lingered in the air. Every wall looked like it belonged in a magazine—sleek, minimalist, and alarmingly spotless.
"Hey Siri, turn the living room lights up," Carl said as he stepped ahead.
And just like that, the space responded.
I was still trying to breathe steadily, taking in the vast open-plan design, the high glass panels that stretched up two floors, the curving staircase that reminded me of something out of a palace. My reflection blinked back at me in the mirrored wall near the entrance, dazed, unsure, battling two things inside me—emotions and curiosity.
