CLAIMED BY THE DON
The guilt weighed heavier than ever—I had pried into a grief he guarded so fiercely, unearthing ghosts he wasn't ready to face.
Eventually, I stood slowly and made my way back upstairs, my legs feeling like lead. As I passed the nursery, I noted the door was now shut tight, sealed once more.
In the hallway, my eyes caught on the scattered petals trailing from the doorway. Peonies—my absolute favorite flower, with their lush, romantic blooms. He had brought them for me, a gesture that now felt heartbreakingly tender amid the chaos.
Careful not to jostle my injured hand, I bent down and gathered the bouquet, cradling the flowers gently. Their sweet, heady scent filled the air as I carried them