The plan

The next morning....

The Blackwood estate, a symbol of grandeur and authority, awoke to a new day, but the echoes of last night’s violence lingered. In the breakfast room, sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the opulent surroundings. The long table, covered in fine china and gleaming silverware, seemed almost serene in contrast to the turmoil that had unfolded. Edwin Blackwood sat at one end, his expression inscrutable as he methodically ate his breakfast. He was preoccupied, his mind still grappling with the shock of the previous night and the weight of the decisions to come.

Herbert Blackwood, the patriarch of the family, entered the room with a measured pace. His demeanor was calm, but the sharpness in his eyes betrayed his awareness of the gravity of the situation. He took his seat at the head of the table and surveyed his family with a composed but stern look. The room fell silent as everyone settled into their places, the usual morning chatter