The house once filled with laughter is now silent, its charm overshadowed by the absence of her mother's clumsiness. An eerie atmosphere surrounds the house, now marked by yellow police tape.

As Tony, Happy, and Pepper arrive at the scene, their frowns deepen; they can't shake the heaviness in the air. They traveled in separate cars, as Eve insisted on going with the officer. Tim, needing to be present because she is still under his care, will remain with her until Tony decides to take over responsibility.

Never would anyone have imagined that someone could live in a house that looks like it might collapse at any moment. The place gives off haunting vibes, with vines creeping along its walls and the wooden structure creaking beneath their footsteps.

Eve pushes aside the yellow tape and approaches the door, but suddenly stops in her tracks, frozen before it.

The others watched her in silence. Eventually, she opened the door, and the sound of the creaking hinges sent chills down her spine, reminding her of the last time she had heard such sounds—when she discovered her mother's cold body lying lifelessly.

She stepped carefully as she walked in, almost tiptoeing. She stopped right over the spot where Evaleen's body had once lain. All that remained was a dried puddle of blood staining the wooden floor; the body was no longer there.

"Eve—" Tim followed her cautiously, as if she were a frightened little deer. He frowned at the sight of her, wanting to ask about her condition, but she turned away and continued toward her room.

The officer sighed and faced the trio that had followed inside. "Please don't touch anything in here. This house is still a crime scene."

"Understood." Tony replied, giving him an 'okay' sign while biting his lip.

The three were captivated by the interior of the house. They had expected a homey atmosphere, but what they encountered was far more revealing.

On one side of what appeared to be the living room was a sofa covered in patched cloth. On the opposite side was the kitchen, featuring a dining table barely big enough for two, surrounded by mismatched chairs. There was no carpet, television, radio, or curtains in sight—only a rusty refrigerator, a portable stove, kitchenware, and a kettle.

Tony frowned as he surveyed the condition of the house. The thought that she might be his daughter made his heart swell with sadness; he realized he had been living a comfortable life while she endured such dire circumstances.

She was walking up the stairs, the same staircase where he had last seen her disappear. He passed a room with a door slightly ajar, just enough for him to peek inside.

There was a mattress lying on the ground, a nightstand beside it, a wooden closet, and a small mirror hanging on the wall. But something inside him felt off; he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

"That's Mom's room."

Eve's voice startled him, breaking his train of thought.

Her brunette hair is damp from showering. A pale blue towel rests on her shoulder, soaking the new dark green hoodie, but she doesn't seem to mind.

Watching her disappear into a room next to where he is standing, he decides to follow her. Eve's room isn't much different from her mother's, except that it lacks a nightstand. Instead, it's filled with stacks of books and notes. Racks hold books of various genres, leaving minimal space to move around. Among them are school textbooks for all grades, revision books, and personal journals.

Tony frowns deeper as he observes Eve packing some clothes into a duffle bag and journals into her backpack. She glances at him from the corner of her eye as he picks up a revision book meant for engineering university students. Flipping through the pages, he notices notes and additional sketches filling its margins. He puts it down and chooses another book for a different course, only to find the same handwriting and drawings within.

"You were homeschooled?" he asks, surprised.

"Sometimes," she replies, continuing to gather her bags.

"By whom?" Tony queries, astonished.

"Me and some other people," Eve states simply before walking away. "Let's just get this over with."

He watches her disappear around the corner and glances at the open books scattered around the room. With a sigh, he follows her out and over to where the others are waiting.

"Do you live here?" he hears Happy ask.

"Do you think before you speak? Because you don't sound very bright," she shoots back.

"But there's no fan," Happy adds, dismissing her sass.

"Open a window; there's something called wind that can flow inside."

"TV?"

"Go outside; there's plenty of drama to watch."

"Microwave? Oven?"

"Waste of money."

Tim sighs, aware that these questions only frustrate the girl, who is still emotionally unstable. "Okay, now that you—"

Tony interrupts him.

Everyone turns at the words coming from him.

"What did you just say?" Pepper asks, bewildered but smiling softly.

"I said—" He takes a deep breath. "I'm taking her in."