KAI
The crunch of leaves underfoot became our soundtrack, the forest's whispers accompanying Alexis and me as we trekked toward the sanctuary we had claimed as our own. The cottage loomed ahead, its rustic charm a stark contrast to the grandeur of the Larson family mansion that I had always found stifling. This place, though—our place—felt like freedom.
"Home sweet home," I murmured, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth despite the weight of my father's condition on my shoulders. Alexis squeezed my hand, her presence a balm to the chaos that was my life. She didn't say it, but I knew she was thinking of the baby, our unexpected miracle.
I pushed open the door, hinges creaking in protest, and a familiar warmth enveloped us. Tapestries draped the walls, their threads telling tales of
