Revenge is best served cold (Jane and Jeremiah novel Chapter 1409

Inside the grand, albeit empty, halls of Aldridge Manor, the silence was almost deafening. Odie had navigated the car into the underground parking, Jonah by his side, while Sophie sat quietly in the back, lost in her thoughts. She hadn't uttered a word during the entire drive.

Once they parked, Odie broke the silence, saying, "I'll give you half an hour. Can you get everything ready by then?"

"My things are already packed, thanks," Sophie replied softly. Her voice was so low it was almost drowned out by the ambient silence. Odie, either not hearing or choosing to ignore, continued, "Be downstairs in half an hour. Don't waste my time."

He stayed in the car, making it clear he was giving Sophie space. She stepped out and headed upstairs, into the heart of the manor.

Aldridge Manor was as imposing and stately as ever, yet it felt different—hollow and lifeless. Since Gordon had left a month ago, the once-bustling home had become eerily silent. No more footsteps on the stairs, no more doctors or specialists. Just a shell of what it once was.

In her dreams, the manor was alive, filled with laughter and smiles. Sophie vividly remembered running from the backyard to the living room, where warmth and joy filled the air. Everyone was smiling, herself included.

As she reached the second floor and stood at the door of Gordon's study, she hesitated. In a fleeting moment, she imagined him there, standing by the window, bathed in sunlight, smiling warmly at her. It was a comforting vision, but as she pushed the door open, reality set in—the room was empty, and a pang of sorrow tugged at her heart.

Dreams were just dreams. Despite her strange familiarity with Aldridge Manor and her deep connection to Gordon and the Aldridge family, the reality was elusive. Memories were like scattered pieces of a puzzle she couldn't fit together.

Sophie approached Gordon's desk, which was pristine and untouched. It seemed dreams held their mysteries, never to be fully unraveled. With a sigh, she left the study, unaware of the photograph tucked away in the top drawer—a snapshot of her on the Aldridge family swing, a memory Gordon chose not to carry with him.