At the Whitmore ancestral house, Selene was seen dishing out instructions to the maids as they prepared dishes, the shimmering chandelier casts a warm glow into the large dining hall reflecting the majesty of the room. Selene is ever poise and elegant,she looks way younger than her age,carrying herself with regal air befitting the matriarch of the Whitmore.
"Ensure everything is perfect",she instructed the head maid,her voice calm and firm. "Louis prefers his steak medium rare and do not forget his lavender tea",she had meticulously prepared all the food according to her son's favourite.
The Whitmore family was the cornerstone of the Silvermore's city elite for centuries; they built their wealth and remained the monarch due to their influence and power which they yielded, reaching far beyond its borders. Selene has overseen the welfare of the family for years while Richard carries the responsibility and she knows how overwhelming it can be.
Amidst the preparations, her mind wandered to her loving son,the responsibility that awaits him,she had always taught him duty comes before all.
Meanwhile,at Holloway's villa,Star sat by the dressing table in her room looking at her reflection in the mirror,her fingers absentmindedly trailing the edge of the dressing table, her mind replaying the call she had placed earlier on to Louis, her chest tightening at the memory of his silence. She had wanted to ask him so much– to demand answers- but the words had caught in her throat.
Back at the Whitmore manor,Louis descended the hidden staircase in the house leading to the cellar with the echo of his shoes against the marble floor, a reminder of the level of his mission.
In the dimly lit cellar,a man sat slumped in a chair, the man's face battered,his clothes torn.Blood oozed out of his mouth,his face darted about in panic.
"Any improvement?" Louis asked,his voice laced with menace.
"No boss",he stepped back from the interrogating chair,flexing his bloodied knuckles. "He's stubborn".
Louis stepped forward handing over his jacket to one of the guards on stand,he is determined to get to the root of this.
"Talk", Louis ordered,his voice dangerously calm and his eye with murderous instincts.
The man gasps, his body trembling."I– I don't know who hired me! I swear! It was just a job!
Louis leans in closer,"you attacked her,and you think this is enough of an answer?"
The man flinched,I promise! I am not lying,I was given this job by a man–I don't know his name,I only speak to him on this phone.I can't call him,he only calls. He gives order when to do the work,I haven't seen him before.He deposited half of the agreed money and hasn't completed the money since the work failed,I made attempt to flee the country that's when I was abducted by your men.
Louis signaled to John,to retrieve the phone the man talked about,have the account that sent the money traced,he instructed.
Louis retrieved his jacket from John,as he moved out from the cellar,John followed him closely to the study.
"Trace the account and any connections related to it",he instructed and give me a full report soonest.
The butler knocks softly on the study door.Louis dismisses John with a wave."Yes, come in" he instructed.
"Master",the madam called from the ancestral home and asked you over to have dinner with them.
Louis nodded, "Tell her I will be there shortly".
Louis had gently picked up his phone from the table in the study,his hand hovered over Star's contact name contemplating whether to call her back,would she has misunderstood her further over his silence when she had called earlier? What would he say? What could he use to justify himself,where is his evidence?
"Just a little more time,Star",he murmured.
With a sigh,he placed the phone in his pocket,picked up his jacket,and headed downstairs. As he headed out ,he paused to instruct the butler,"Let the maids have treats tonight, it's my way of thanking them for their work,and do not wait on me,you can retire early tonight".
"Yes,master", Clark answered and bowed gently.
He took the key from the driver, deciding to drive himself out.
As Louis drove through the bustling city of Silvermore, his sight caught an old diner nestled in the corner of Maple Avenue,his grip on the steering loosened a bit as the memories flooded in.
It was their favourite place back in high school,the smell of freshly baked cake,their laughter shared over the ice cream, and the way Star eyes lit up when he teased her he would order the same white velvet cake–felt so real and vivid.
He slowed the car down pulling over for a moment,his mind wandering to a particular afternoon after school:
Star had sat across from him with a cup of ice cream in her hand,her cheeks flushed,she smiled which warmed his heart.
"Promise me,no matter where life takes us or may have in store for us,you will forever cherish this", she said softly yet firmly.
Louis had reached across the table for her hand "I promise,you are my everything"
The weight of this word felt like a heavy burden on his heart,he has broken the promise not by choice but necessity.
The buzz of his phone geared him back into reality,the name on the screen was not hers and it hasn't been these days.
Louis gripped the steering as he drove off, the old diner disappeared in the rearview just like the simpler days he could never reclaim.