The days at the farmhouse unfolded like a carefully orchestrated performance. Alison and Noah, who once shared a profound connection, now moved through their days with strained effort, each interaction tinged with the weight of unspoken words. Alone, they avoided each other, the silence between them a fragile truce. But in front of Richard, Asher, and Lilian, they played their roles perfectly, as if nothing had ever been amiss.
Richard and Asher seemed relieved by the apparent resolution of whatever quarrel had previously caused tension between the couple. Richard often smiled knowingly at Noah, as if to say, "I knew you two would sort things out." Asher, too, seemed to relax, happy to see the harmony restored among them.
Lilian, on the other hand, wore a mask of cheerful indifference. S
