⏩ Aniket's POV:~ I slipped into the house as quietly as a shadow, carefully ensuring the door clicked shut behind me without a sound, like a well-trained spy returning from a covert mission.

The pendulum clock on the wall glared at me, its ornate hands pointing to 11:30 PM—work at the architectural firm had kept me later than usual tonight, a common occurrence these days with the Johnson project deadline looming.