The letter arrived on a stormy afternoon, slipping through the mail slot with an eerie whisper. Eliza Rivers stared at the embossed envelope, her name etched in swirling black ink. She'd been expecting mundane bills and junk mail - not an invitation to spend a weekend at Ashwood Manor.
The letter bore a familiar crest: a raven encircled by thorns. It was the family emblem of the Ashwoods, an old aristocratic lineage steeped in mystery. Eliza had met one of them years ago - Sebastian Ashwood, her distant cousin, at a charity gala. He was charming, with piercing gray eyes that seemed to see through her soul. The invitation was signed in his name.
"Dearest Eliza," it read,
"It has been too long. Ashwood Manor awaits your presence this weekend. It is time you discovered your roots.
Yours,
Sebastian Ashwood."
The letter felt more like a summons than an invitation. Against her better judgment, Eliza packed her bags. She didn't know why she felt compelled to go; perhaps it was the promise of unraveling family secrets or the haunting pull of Sebastian's enigmatic charm.