Faye went straight to the Becker mansion that evening. She carried a small food container, holding the new dish she had just learned to make. Her heart beat fast with excitement. She wanted Madam Monika to be the first to taste it.

When she entered, the mansion was calm and quiet. Madam Monika was in the living room, sitting on a massage chair. Her feet were resting in a small massage bowl that moved in slow circles.

The old woman looked peaceful. Her eyes were closed, her breathing calm. In a few minutes, she had dozed off.

Faye tiptoed toward the dining table and began setting the plates quietly. But...