Chapter 46 - Embers of the past

The Laurent estate stood tall like an imperial fortress nestled amidst perfectly manicured gardens that gleamed under the morning sun. Towering wrought iron gates opened to a cobbled driveway, the crunch of tires and the low purr of the convoy's engines echoing in the crisp air. The mansion itself exuded old-world charm fused with ruthless authority. Gothic arches loomed overhead, and ivy clung to the beige stone walls, whispering secrets of generations past. The scent of trimmed roses and morning dew filled the atmosphere, blending with the faint tang of coffee and freshly baked croissants wafting through the grand windows.