This was the home Samuel shared with Isabella. Though most of the time, it was she who took care of everything. She kept it immaculate, managing the house with quiet grace.
Even with housekeepers and servants, she still tended to the plants herself and made sure to hang a light on the rooftop terrace.
She said it was for him.
Every night when he got home from work, he would always find that one light glowing in the house, waiting for him.
Samuel pushed open the door, and the familiar warmth of their home greeted him. The atmosphere was just as peaceful and inviting as before.
He looked toward the flower bed, and for a moment, he could almost picture Isabella carefully cutting a few dew- covered roses and bringing them into the living room to arrange in a vase.
The scene felt like something out of a dream–a quiet, perfect moment in time.
He tiptoed through the entryway, eager to surprise Isabella. But as he searched the first floor, there was no sign of her. His brow furrowed. He turned to one of the servants who was working methodically.
“Where’s my wife?” he asked.
The servant paused, exchanging uncertain glances with the others.
Samuel’s patience began to wear thin. “Where is she?”
“W–we don’t know, sir,” the servant stammered. “She left in the afternoon–said she was going to the mountain to look at the stars.”
Anger flared inside him. “It’s this late, and none of you know if she’s back yet?!”
The servant had no choice but to answer honestly, though it wasn’t easy. “She told us not to wait for her. She said we should finish our work and then rest.”
The other servants nodded in agreement. Clearly, they really didn’t know where Isabella was.
–
Samuel’s frustration grew. He was tempted to fire them all for their lack of attention. But his desire to see Isabella to talk to her about tomorrow’s anniversary–pushed him to hurry upstairs, heading straight for their bedroom.
“Bella!” he called out, his voice full of anticipation as he opened the door. But instead of finding her, the room was empty.
The spacious room felt even emptier with no one there. A breeze swept through the room, causing the curtains by the floor–to–ceiling windows to sway gently. The soft rustling sound of the fabric brushing against the glass filled the silence.
Samuel’s heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to give in to his confusion, his eyes caught something on the bedside table.
It was a delicate box.
Wasn’t this the five–year anniversary gift Isabella had prepared for him?
Samuel walked over in a daze, his mind racing. Only then did he notice that under the box was an envelope. As he saw the name written on the envelope, his heart gave a sudden, sharp jolt..
