Chapter 120
~ Franklin ~
That evening at the sprawling family estate, the golden glow of the chandelier cast long shadows across the polished mahogany table as my grandfather and I sat down for dinner. The air was thick with the rich aroma of roasted lamb, garlic-infused potatoes, and a hint of aged red wine. Silverware clinked softly against fine china, but my mind was elsewhere—restless, tangled in the web of secrets and second chances that had defined the past few weeks. We began to talk, the kind of easy conversation that only comes after years of shared history.
"How was your meeting with the Blakeleys?" I asked, spearing a piece of tender meat with my fork.
