The shutdown

As they talked, he couldn't help but feel grateful for his relationship with Elena it felt like having a new light in his life after so long. Elena always had a way of putting him at ease and making him feel understood. Eventually, they said their goodbyes and he climbed into bed, feeling content knowing that he had someone like Elena in his life.

****

The next morning, Elizabeth emerged from her room and was immediately struck by the eerie emptiness of the mansion. She called out for Joseph, their faithful butler, several times but received no answer. Growing increasingly anxious, she fished her phone out of her pocket and attempted to call Steven, Liam, and even her husband, but all of her efforts were thwarted by poor network connectivity.

With her heart pounding in her chest, Elizabeth dialed Isabella's number, hoping for a response. But the phone wasn't connecting too due to the network. Fearing the worst, she hurried over to Isabella's room and tapped gently on the door. There w