Chapter 4: The Gathering Storm

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 03:28:31 +0000

The air on Friday morning was thick with the promise of a storm, both meteorological and metaphorical. A low, bruised sky pressed down on the Sterling estate, the humidity making the vibrant gardens seem overly lush, almost febrile. Inside the house, the calm was a thin veneer over a hive of frenetic activity.