Chapter 274: Announcing the dinner...
~The Santiago family house~
The sun had already begun its gentle ascent into the sky, casting a golden ray of light over the lush gardens.
The morning air was cool and crisp, and a delicate breeze whispered through the blooming flowers, carrying with it a fragrant breath of serenity.
In the large dining hall, a long polished mahogany table stretched with quiet majesty, several members of the Santiago family sat in order of age and seniority.
At the head of the table sat Lady Matilda Santiago, the formidable matriarch of the household. Her presence exuding grace, nobility and silent authority,
Beside her was Donald Santiago, the heir apparent. His composure poised, attentive, and reserved, his expression as usual gentle yet unreadable.
The table was lined with the nuclear and extended Santiago bloodline—sons, daughters, their spouses, and children and all residents of the vast Santiagos’ estate.
"They had all gathered for one purpose—their weekly family gathering. The Santiago family has a long-standing tradition that requires all members to return home for the weekly mealtime."
Maids moved swiftly and quietly between them as they refills glasses, passing trays, and ensuring each person’s’s needs were met.
Immediately the meal was served, they resumed eating and silence filled the hall. It had always being a long-standing rule of the Santiago household and yet still governed the table: no one spoke during meals.
Conversations, disputes, or casual remarks were considered a breach of mealtime discipline. Meals were eaten in silence—a tradition meant to instill mindfulness, reflection, and restraint.