80 A Tense Morning and Lily's Departure

The morning atmosphere at the Everett mansion was thick with tension, punctuated by the intermittent glances Michael directed toward the stairs, his usual stoic demeanor tinged with an uncharacteristic sense of anticipation. The house staff, including the bodyguards who often harbored a sense of disdain for Lily, were unusually subdued, their gazes fixated on the upper floor, expecting her appearance. As time trickled by without a sign of Lily, Michael’s patience seemed to wane. He finally broke the silence, his voice carrying an urgency rarely heard, “Martha, go check on Lily. She shouldn’t skip breakfast.” Martha, acutely aware of the previous night’s unsettling events, hurried upstairs, her mind racing with concern. Upon finding Lily’s room empty and her bed untouched since morning, her anxiety deepened. She rushed back to Michael with the news, her expression fraught with worry. Michael’s face, usually an imperturbable mask, betrayed a flicker of concern. He stood up abrup