In a sprawling, secluded mansion on the outskirts of town, lived Mr. William Langford, a wealthy but reclusive man in his late fifties. He had no known family, no friends, and kept to himself, with only his housemaid, Maria, for company. Maria had worked for him for years, maintaining the vast estate with quiet efficiency.
Maria was a woman of few words, but her thoughts were often occupied by the mysteries surrounding Mr. Langford. She had long wondered why such a wealthy man lived in such isolation, with no apparent family or connections. Despite her curiosity, she never asked questions, content to do her work and keep the household running smoothly.
One day, while cleaning Mr. Langford’s study, Maria stumbled upon an old letter tucked away in a drawer. The letter revealed a shocking truth: Mr Langford was completely alone in the world, with no living relatives. Furthermore, it stated that in the event of his death, all his wealth and property would be inherited by his most trusted servant.
Maria’s heart raced as she read the letter. The realization hit her—if Mr. Langford were to die, she would inherit everything. The mansion, the money, the land—it could all be hers. The idea took root in her mind, growing stronger with each passing day.
As the days turned into weeks, Maria’s demeanour changed. She became more attentive, watching Mr. Langford’s every move, calculating her next steps. The idea of wealth and freedom consumed her thoughts, and soon, a dark plan began to form in her mind.
One evening, as Mr Langford sat down to his dinner, Maria served him a glass of his favourite wine. She watched him closely as he took a sip, her hands trembling slightly. Inside the wine was a potent poison odourless, tasteless, and lethal.
Mr Langford continued to drink, unaware of the danger. He smiled at Maria, a rare gesture of warmth, and thanked her for her years of service. But as the poison took effect, his smile faded, replaced by a look of confusion and pain. He clutched his chest, gasping for breath, and collapsed to the floor.
Maria stood frozen, watching as life drained from his eyes. The house was silent, except for the sound of her own breathing. The deed was done.
With Mr. Langford gone, Maria took charge of the estate. She contacted the lawyers and presented the letter as proof of her inheritance. The process was swift, and soon, the mansion and all its wealth were hers.
But as Maria settled into her new life of luxury, something strange began to happen. The mansion, once a symbol of her triumph, now felt suffocating. She couldn’t escape the feeling that she was being watched. At night, she heard whispers in the halls, footsteps echoing through the empty rooms.
Maria tried to dismiss it as guilt, but the feeling grew stronger each day. She started seeing shadows moving in the corners of her vision, and the air in the mansion grew colder. The wealth that had once seemed like a blessing now felt like a curse.
One night, unable to bear the haunting presence any longer, Maria fled the mansion. She left everything behind, driven mad by the weight of her own actions. The mansion stood empty once more, its dark secrets buried within its walls.
In the end, Maria realized too late that the price of her greed was her sanity. The inheritance that had promised her freedom instead brought her only fear and torment, leaving her to wander, forever haunted by the shadows of what she had done.