The morning had begun like any other at the Feng household. The soft clinking of dishes, the steady hum of the ceiling fan, and the faint rustling of the curtains as a breeze fluttered through the open windows.
Mrs. Feng had descended from her room, her footsteps light on the polished wooden staircase.
She was dressed impeccably as usual, her silk robe flowing behind her as she made her way to the kitchen, expecting to find the comforting aroma of breakfast wafting through the air.
But when she entered the kitchen, the space was eerily quiet. The large, marble-topped counter sat bare, and the pots and pans that usually clanged with the bustling of food preparation were untouched.
The familiar figure of Mrs. Wang, the household's cook for nearly a decade, was conspicuously absent. Mrs. Feng's brow furrowed slightly in confusion.
