Chapter 128: The End of Alex

### Chapter 128

As Joan looked out over the sprawling fields, the weight of the world seemed to rest on his young shoulders. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the rolling hills and freshly tilled earth. The warm, golden light made the landscape glow, but it did little to ease the turmoil in his heart. Joan had always loved this time of day, the moment when the world seemed to pause, caught between the hustle of the day and the stillness of the night. But now, everything felt different—heavier, more uncertain.

He turned away from the horizon and headed back inside the mansion. The old wooden door creaked as he pushed it open, the familiar sound echoing through the empty halls. The house was quiet, almost too quiet. It was a stark contrast to the days when Alex was alive, when laughter and conversation filled every room. Now, there was only the soft whisper of the wind against the windows and the distant clatter of pots and pans from the kitchen.