Chapter 14 - The Scars We CarryThree weeks later, the blizzard had receded, leaving the grounds of the Thorne estate covered in clean, crystalline drifts under a crisp blue February sky.
Inside the sunlit conservatory, Elena sat in a wicker armchair, holding Thomas while watching Leo play on the rug with a wooden train set. The cuts on her face had faded to pale pink lines, though her movements still carried the cautious grace of healing ribs.
Julian entered, setting a pair of new winter boots beside Leo’s play area. "These just arrived from town. Lined with sheepskin."
Leo looked up, his face breaking into a bright grin. "Thanks, Uncle Julian!" He immediately abandoned the train to try on the boots, stomping proudly across the hardwood floors.
Elena watched him, a deep, serene peace settling over her features. She looked at Julian, who stood near the window, his shoulders finally relaxed from the rigid tension he had carried for years.
"He doesn't have nightmares anymore," Elena said softly. "The first week, he would wake up screaming about the headlights. But last night... he slept until sunrise."
"And you?" Julian asked, turning to face her.
May you like
"I still look at the door when the wind blows," she admitted, shifting Thomas into her arm. "But then I look at this room. You gave us a life, Julian. You didn't just save Leo; you broke the curse Marcus spent his life feeding."
Julian looked down at his hands—hands that had fought, bargained, and rebuilt from the ashes. "We chose a different path. That’s all."
