Return Of The Real Heiress: Secrets And Masks novel Chapter 4

In the study, a knock on the door startled Cherise from her reverie. "Come in," she called, and Dennis entered, his expression somber.

"Dennis," Cherise greeted with a gentle smile.

"Ms. Leach, today you turn 20," Dennis said, his voice heavy with the weight of Amelia's last wishes. "Ms. Garcia was supposed to give you the password to the secret room, where something important is kept. But with her passing, the password has been lost to us."

The secret room, hidden behind a vase in her grandmother's study, had always piqued Cherise's curiosity.

Her grandmother's strict prohibition had kept her away, but now, with a mix of excitement and unease, she said, "I'll see if I can crack it."

Dennis's face brightened. "You've always been sharp, Ms. Leach. If you can figure it out, Ms. Garcia would be very happy."

Cherise had quickly surpassed the school curriculum and continued her education with guidance from her grandmother and the insights of the townspeople, but Dennis was largely in the dark about the breadth of her learning.

"I'll leave you to it," Dennis said, his step lighter as he added, "I'll go help Bella with dinner."

Cherise approached the vase, twisted the base, and the wooden door behind it swung open.

She stepped into a hidden room, her eyes immediately drawn to a tarot-themed iron door. The door's centerpiece was a raised design featuring all 22 Major Arcana cards, each capable of movement—a nod to the rich tapestry of tarot culture.

Her grandmother's passion for tarot flashed through her mind, and Cherise knew she was on the right track.