The house was quieter than usual when Isabelle returned.
The staff had kept things calm for the past few days, respecting Sebastian’s sharp-edged protectiveness and Sophia’s anxious hovering. But now, walking in with Sebastian’s arm wrapped securely around her and the late morning sun filtering through the windows, it really felt like coming home for the first time in days.
And yet… everything felt a little different.
There was lavender in the air, soft music playing in the background—something instrumental and calming—and fresh white tulips on the entry table. Little things. Subtle shifts. Thoughtful touches that meant Sebastian had been here, tending to the space like a man trying to keep something fragile from unraveling.
He led her gently to the couch where a stack of cushions, bla
