Chapter 6: The Sage Green Room
A month passed, slowly replacing the sharp trauma with gentle healing. Sarah did not return to the cramped, lonely apartment she had rented during their separation. She went home with Julian. The grand estate, once feeling like a beautiful mausoleum, felt entirely different now. With Eleanor’s toxic presence excised, the heavy, oppressive atmosphere had vanished, letting the sunlight back in.
Julian spent every waking moment trying to build a sanctuary for them. He refused to hire decorators; instead, he spent his weekends in overalls, carefully painting the nursery a calming sage green. He attended every single medical checkup, rubbed Sarah's swollen feet every night, and ensured she was insulated from the press circus surrounding the family name.
There were still hard nights. The sensation of falling still haunted Sarah’s nightmares, causing her to wake up gasping and clutching her chest. But every time she woke in a panic, Julian was instantly there, pulling her into his chest, rubbing her back, and murmuring promises of safety until her heartbeat matched his own.
