The morning light streamed through the tall windows, bright and golden, yet to Carson, it felt cruel. The sky was too blue, the air too fresh, the world too happy for what he was about to do.
He stood in front of the mirror, dressed in his fitted black suit. The silk tie around his neck felt tight, like something choking him slowly.
He stared at his reflection, seeing a stranger. His face looked calm, but his eyes told a different story—tired, lost, and hollow.
His fingers trembled as he tried to fix the tie again, but it only made it worse. He pulled it loose, breathing hard, as if the air in the room had thinned.
From downstairs, Victoria’s voice filled the silence. It was sharp, busy, and commanding, cutting through the house like a blade.
She was giving orders to the decorators,
