The night was like molten obsidian, outlining the stark, cold silhouette of the Sterling family estate. On the lawn, the automated sprinkler system hissed rhythmically, like cold serpents coiling around this silent cage.Inside the dining room, a six-figure rosewood table sat beneath a crystal chandelier that cast a brilliant but warmthless light. The air was thick with the aroma of roasted rack of lamb, mingling with expensive perfume and an even more expensive silence.This was Jack Miller and Katherine Sterling's first wedding anniversary.However, there were no candles on the table, no flowers, only a silent tribunal."Jack, did you use a bit too much rosemary on this lamb? It's overpowering the natural flavor of the meat." Katherine's mother, Susan Sterling, poked at the food on her plate with a silver fork, her brow furrowed as if she were examining a failed business proposal, not a dish. Her voice was not loud, but it was like a precise scalpel, dissecting what little warmth re
Last Updated : 2025-10-11 Read more