Michael sat alone in the dimly lit study, the quiet ticking of a nearby clock echoing through the empty room.
He took a long, slow sip of his wine, savoring the warmth as it spread through him, but it did little to soothe his troubled heart. A hollow ache settled in his chest, heavier with each passing moment.
"Master, you called for me," came the soft, respectful voice of the butler, who bowed his head slightly as he entered the room.
Michael sighed, his gaze fixed on the glass in his hand. "The house… it feels so empty," he murmured, his voice raw with the pain he couldn't suppress. "That hurts."
The butler's face softened as he kept his head bowed, not daring to intrude on his master's private sorrow but offering a quiet presence. "I also miss the young masters' presence in the hou
