Chapter 56: The Calm Before the Storm

The first light of dawn filtered through the heavy curtains of the Hastings estate, casting a soft, golden glow across the grand bedroom. Emma stirred in her bed, the remnants of troubled dreams still clinging to her mind. She lay there for a moment, the warmth of the sheets providing a brief comfort against the chill of the morning. But the weight of the previous night’s conversation with Samantha quickly pulled her from her reverie. Samantha had declined their offer of immediate help, choosing instead to remain with her husband for reasons she didn’t fully explain. But Emma and Alexander both knew the truth—the bruises, the fear in her eyes—it all pointed to the beatings she had suffered at Mark’s hands. The thought of Samantha going back to that life, even for a short time, left a sour taste in Emma’s mouth. With a sigh, Emma rose from the bed, dressing quickly in something both practical and elegant. The day ahead would be filled with difficult decisions and tense moments, and sh