Chapter Hundred - Twenty Eight

Adrian’s tie hung loose against his chest as he stepped into the quiet house, the muted click of the front door echoing too loudly in the silence. It was late evening, though the children were still napping, their routine bent out of shape without Sienna’s steady hand to guide it. He paused in the entryway, his gaze lingering on the mug sitting on the counter — the one Sienna always used for her morning tea.

The absence of her presence pressed down on him, heavier than the day’s work. Adrian tugged his tie free and set his briefcase down, loosening his shoulders with a long exhale before moving toward the garden doors.

Outside, twilight draped the sky in a wash of indigo and fading gold. The garden Sienna loved so much stretched before him, her roses trembling in the evening breeze, herbs lined neatly in their beds, basil and rosemary filling the air with a sharp, clean scent. He picked up the watering can and moved carefully among them, the way she did, pouring water as though the pl