Chapter 104: Strange

The days following Emily's burial were somber and quiet at the Hastings mansion. The grief that had settled over the household was palpable, a thick, heavy presence that clung to everyone like a shroud. Despite their best efforts to move forward, the absence of Emily was felt in every corner of the home. Her laughter, her comforting presence, and her warmth were all gone, leaving behind an emptiness that no one could fill. Emma spent most of her time in the garden, tending to the flowers that Emily had loved so much. It was a small comfort, a way to feel connected to the woman who had been her guiding light for so many years. Alexander watched her from a distance, his heart aching with a pain he couldn’t quite express. He wanted to help her, to make her smile again, but he knew that this was a wound only time could heal. One afternoon, as Emma sat among the roses, lost in thought, she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up to see Rachel making her way over, her expression a mix o