Chapter 125

The return flight was quiet, the luxury of the jet feeling oddly oppressive as Davin and Helen grappled with the weight of the uncertainties that awaited them. The dazzling beauty of their island retreat seemed like a distant dream now, overshadowed by the looming challenges of their everyday world.

As the plane touched down in the city, the familiar bustle of the airport greeted them. The excitement of their wedding seemed a world away as they were thrust back into the demands of reality. The once-splendid comfort of the jet now felt like a brief escape from the problems they needed to confront.

The ride from the airport to Davin's family estate was silent, each lost in their thoughts. Davin’s face was etched with a tension that Helen hadn’t seen before. Her concern grew with every mile they drove. When they finally arrived at the estate, the grandeur of the house did little to alleviate the feeling of unease that had settled between them.

Margaret, Davin’s mother, greeted them with