The 100-Day Goodbye의 모든 챕터: 챕터 11 - 챕터 18

Day Eight arrived with a soft, persistent drizzle that blurred the edges of the garden. Inside the Garrison house, a new kind of rhythm was forming. Claire had taken over the kitchen, much to Martha’s amusement, insisting on making a "healing broth" she had learned about in London. Arthur, true to his word, had not left for the office. He spent his morning in the library, though the door remained open so he could hear any movement from the sunroom. Evelyn was back at her easel. She had started to block out the colors of the oak trees—deep greens and charcoal grays. Her hand felt a little steadier today, perhaps because of the new medication Julian had started her on, or perhaps because the house didn’t feel like a battlefield anymore. "You're holding the brush too tight," a voice said from the doorway. Evelyn didn't turn around. She knew it was Arthur by the weight of his footsteps. "I'm trying to make sure it doesn't fall. My fingers feel a bit numb today." Arthur walked into the

The kitchen was remarkably quiet the following morning. Claire was sitting at the island, typing furiously on her laptop, while Arthur was carefully measuring out coffee grounds. He kept his movements precise, almost methodical, as if focusing entirely on the task would keep the rest of the world from crashing down around him. "Marcus texted me," Claire said, not looking up from her screen. "He said you caused a bit of a scene when you walked out of the auction last night. Apparently, Mother looked like she wanted to faint." Arthur poured hot water over the coffee filter. "I don't care how she looked, Claire. I told her I’m taking a leave of absence, and I meant it." "Sarah was there too, wasn't she?" Claire finally looked up, her expression turning sharp. "Marcus mentioned she left right after you did. He said she looked furious." "She won't be coming back," Arthur said, his voice flat. He carried a mug of black coffee over to the island and sat down opposite his sister. "I made

The morning after Julian’s visit, the house felt larger, colder, and entirely too empty. Claire had gone into the city to gather the rest of her belongings from her apartment, leaving Arthur and Evelyn alone for the first time in days. Arthur spent the early hours in the kitchen. He wasn’t looking at his phone, nor was he checking the morning stock reports. Instead, he was standing over a small wooden cutting board, meticulously dicing a chicken breast for the high-protein soup Julian had demanded. His movements were awkward, his large hands gripping the knife with unnecessary force. Evelyn walked in quietly, her soft slippers making almost no sound on the hardwood floor. She stood by the kitchen island, watching him. "You’re going to ruin that cutting board if you keep pressing down that hard, Arthur." Arthur jumped slightly, nearly dropping the knife. He looked up, his expression instantly smoothing into one of concern. "You’re downstairs early. How are your lungs? Any tightness?

The morning of Day Ten brought a crisp, clear sky that smelled faintly of pine and damp earth. True to his word, Arthur was out in the garden before the morning mist had completely evaporated from the grass. He was wearing an old gray sweatshirt and a pair of stiff leather boots he had found in the back of the mudroom closet. He looked entirely out of place holding a heavy iron spade, his hands gripping the wooden handle as if it were a corporate gavel.Evelyn watched him from the patio, wrapped tightly in her oversized cardigan. She had a small cup of warm water with lemon between her hands, the steam rising gently into the cool air."You're digging too close to the roots of the hydrangeas, Arthur," she called out, her voice slightly raspy but clear.Arthur stopped, his boot resting on the shoulder of the spade. He wiped his brow with the back of his arm, leaving a smudge of dark dirt across his forehead. He looked down at the patch of soil he had been violently turning over for the