LOGINThe morning was bright.I stood at the window, watching the sun rise. The garden was green and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals soft and fragrant. The air smelled of flowers and new beginnings, of earth and hope. The world outside was waking up, just like I was.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the thin fabric of my dress."You're up early."I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "About who I am. About who I've become."He touched my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. "Who are you?"I looked at him. At his storm-cloud eyes. At the man who had seen me at my worst and loved me anyway. "I
The evening was quiet.I stood by the window, watching the sun set. The sky was painted in shades of pink and gold, bleeding into deep purple at the edges. The garden was peaceful, the roses swaying gently in the evening breeze. The children were inside, laughing and playing, their voices carrying through the open windows like music.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that had become my comfort. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the fabric of my dress."What are you thinking?"I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his body against mine. "I'm thinking about how far we've come."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "We've come a long way."I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "Yes. We have."He pulled me close, his arms strong around me. "I love you, Sable."I looked at him. At his storm-cloud eyes. "I love
The days passed slowly.Spring turned to summer. The garden was lush and green. The roses were in full bloom, their petals soft and fragrant, their colors vibrant in the warm sunlight. The children played in the grass, their laughter floating through the open windows like music. The air smelled of flowers and earth, of life and hope.I stood at the window, watching them. Lily was chasing Barnaby through the garden, her small feet leaving prints in the dew. The other children ran after her, their voices bright and joyful. It was the sound of life, of hope, of healing.Rex walked to me, his hand finding my waist. "What are you thinking?"I leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. "I'm thinking about Anna. About when she'll come back."He kissed my temple. "She'll come back."I turned to face him, searching his eyes. "How do you know?"He touched my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. "Because she promised."The days turned into weeks.We waited. We hoped. We lived.L
The morning was cold.I stood at the window, watching the rain fall. It came down in sheets, washing the world clean. The garden was green, lush and alive. The roses were blooming, their petals heavy with water, their fragrance muted by the rain. The air smelled of wet earth and new beginnings, of something ending and something about to start.Anna walked to me, her footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath her weight, a sound that was still new to me. She moved differently than I remembered. Lighter. Like someone who had finally made a decision."You're up early."I turned to face her. "I couldn't sleep."She smiled, a gentle curve of her lips. "Neither could I."We stood together, watching the rain streak down the glass. The droplets raced each other to the bottom, merging and splitting, like the paths of our lives."What are you thinking about?" she asked.I looked at her, at the woman who had given me life and then disappeared. "About the past. About all the y
The morning was cold.I stood at the window, watching the frost creep across the glass in delicate, crystalline patterns. Winter was returning, its icy fingers reaching for the garden once more. The roses were sleeping, their bare branches dark against the gray sky. The grass was brittle, white with frost. The world outside was silent, muffled by the cold, as if holding its breath, waiting for something to change.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that usually brought me comfort. Today it only made me more aware of how fragile everything was. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the fabric of my sweater."You're up early."I leaned into him, letting his warmth seep through my clothes. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "Abo
The morning was cold.I stood at the window, watching the frost creep across the glass in delicate, crystalline patterns. Winter was returning, its icy fingers reaching for the garden once more. The roses were sleeping, their bare branches dark against the gray sky. The grass was brittle, white with frost. The world outside was silent, muffled by the cold, as if holding its breath, waiting for something to change.Rex walked to me, his footsteps soft on the wooden floor. The boards creaked beneath his weight, a familiar sound that usually brought me comfort. Today it only made me more aware of how fragile everything was. His hand found my waist, warm and solid through the fabric of my sweater."You're up early."I leaned into him, letting his warmth seep through my clothes. "I couldn't sleep."He kissed my temple, his lips lingering. "What were you thinking about?"I turned to face him, my hands resting on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palms, steady and strong. "Abo
The kitchen was quiet.Lena's phone sat on the table between us. The screen was dark now, but the messages were burned into my memory. Drake's words. Lena's fear. Promises made. Promises broken."Three years," I said.Rex looked at me. "What?""Victor has been dead for three years. The real Victor.
The garden was dark.The stars were out. The roses were invisible. Rex stood beside me. His hand was in mine. The traitor was somewhere in the house. Watching. Waiting. Planning."We cannot stay here all night," Rex said."I know.""Then what do you want to do?"I looked at the house. The windows w
The door to the hospital room opened.Isabella walked in.Her face was pale. Her eyes were red. She had been crying. Her hair was messy. Her clothes were wrinkled. She looked nothing like the perfect sister I remembered."Mira," she said."Isabella.""Can I sit down?""It is a free country."She sa
The morning light was gray.I stood in the garden. The roses were wet with dew. Rex stood beside me. His hand was in mine. We had not moved since the sun rose."We should go inside," he said."In a minute.""Your mother is waiting. Catherine. She wants to talk to you.""About what?""She did not sa







